At least 71% of the paint brands sold in Kenya have a dangerously high concentration of lead.
This statistic was released on Tuesday by the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), an environmental justice watchdog.
15 out of the 21 tested paint brands manufactured and supplied in the country were found to have lead concentrations of above 10,000ppm (parts per million).
Also, almost all of the 21 brands that were analysed, save for two, are manufacturing and releasing at least one lead paint with a total lead concentration above 90 ppm into the local consumer market.
The highest concentration of lead (160,000 ppm) was detected in a yellow paint produced by Molar Enamel Paint for home use, despite it being advertised as ‘lead free’.
These levels constitute as much as 16 percent of the paint and is almost 18,000 times the allowed legal limit of 0.009 percent of the paint (90 ppm).
Lead-based paint is most likely to be found on window frames, doors, skirting boards, kitchen and bathroom cupboards, exterior walls, gutters, metal surfaces and fascias.
It can also be found on interior walls, ceilings and areas with enamel paint.
Lead poisoning can occur when you are exposed to high levels of lead. This can cause anaemia and impaired brain and nervous system functions.
Low levels of exposure to lead can also cause health effects, such as learning disabilities and behavioural problems in children.
