‘The brighter the worse’: Lead content of commercially available solvent-based paints intended for residential use in Pakistan

Background: Environmental pollution and exposure to lead (Pb) through household paint continue to be a great concern, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We measured the Pb levels of solvent-based paints commercially available in Karachi, Pakistan. We visited major markets and collected commonly available brands of paint, sampling the yellow, red, and white colors of each. The paint samples’ Pb content was measured using inductively coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Results: Of the 60 analyzed paint samples, 24 (40%) contained Pb levels of >100 ppm (beyond the legal limit in Pakistan), with a maximum of 97,000 ppm (dry weight). Sixteen (76.2%) of the 21 yellow paints (range: 5,100–97,000 ppm, IQR: 36,900 ppm), seven (37.0%) of the 19 red paints (range: 220–1,800 ppm, IQR: 255 ppm), and one (5%) of the 20 white paints (870 ppm) contained Pb levels of >100 ppm. Of the 60 paints, 45 were produced by domestic Pakistani companies (51% exceeding the limit) and 15 by multinational companies (7% exceeding the limit). Conclusions: Although Pakistani regulations have restricted Pb content in paints to <100 ppm since 2017, these regulations are poorly implemented, as highlighted by this study. We therefore recommend that paint manufacturers comply with national standards and internationally recommended Pb limits to ensure the health and safety of children and other populations in Pakistan.