Paint containing lead additives poses risks to health from poisoning and environmental contamination. Lead can have permanent health effects on children, but also causes harm in adults.
Childhood lead poisoning, also during pregnancy, can have lifelong health impacts including: learning disabilities, anemia, and disorders in coordination, visual, spatial and language skills.
There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe for adults or children. Lead can be found in decorative paint for interiors and exteriors of homes, schools, public and commercial buildings, as well as on toys, furniture and playgrounds.
Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint
The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance) is a voluntary partnership formed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent exposure to lead through promoting the phase-out of paints containing lead.
Actions for Governments, Industry, and Civil Society Organizations
This section gives insights on the actions to be taken by Governments, industry and civil society organizations in phasing-out paints containing lead.
Useful information on lead
The initial listing are categorized by source. As work progresses additional categorization will be developed for specific work areas. Suggestions of additional information and resources for listing on the website (in any language) may be submitted to the secretariat.
- Governments (GOV)
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Academic Institutions
- International and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
- General References
Disclaimer: The listing of information and resources is intended to provide information and guidance. The mention of specific resources or their producers does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the United Nations Environment and/or the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. UN Environment and/or WHO cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by these links or any other linked sites.
Projects
SAICM GEF Project - Lead in Paint Component
In 2019, UNEP launched the SAICM GEF Project - Lead in Paint Component activities on lead in paint through four regional workshops in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin American regions, with the participation of more than 130 participants from government, industry, and civil society. In addition, five launch workshops for the work on paint reformulation in small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) took place in Jordan, China, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Andean countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia) in collaboration with NCPCs and IPEN Partner Organisations. Read more
SAICM KNOWLEDGE
SAICM Knowledge is the knowledge management platform of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), where you can learn about SAICM emerging policy issues through resources, reading news and opinion articles, being informed of events around the globe, and exchanging with other people working on the sound management of chemicals and waste.
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW)
The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) takes place every year during the third week of October. The aim of the week of action is to a) raise awareness about health effects of lead exposure; b) highlight the efforts of countries and partners to prevent lead exposure, particularly in children; and c) urge further action to eliminate lead paint through regulatory action at country level. Governments, civil society organizations, health partners and others are encouraged to organize campaigns during ILPPW. ILPPW 2023 - ILPPW 2022 - ILPPW 2020 - ILPPW 2019 - ILPPW 2018 - ILPPW 2017 - ILPPW 2016.
Lead paint law status interactive map
This interactive map shows data on the status of national lead paint laws as provided by governments to United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization, joint secretariat of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint. Information on an individual country’s lead paint law can be found by scrolling over each country. The year indicates when a country passed its lead paint law.
Frequently Asked Questions
These FAQs are intended to provide guidance supported by available technical information and are reviewed and updated by the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint as additional relevant information becomes available.
