An evaluation of lead levels in paints for residential use sold in the Nigerian market

In developing countries, relatively, little or no attention has been devoted to the potential for childhood exposure to lead used in domestic paint. In this study, we measured lead levels in 19 samples of locally manufactured paint purchased from the Nigerian market in February, 2005. The level of lead in the paints ranged from 17.5 μg·g-1 to 515.9 μg·g-1, with mean (SD) of 62.2 μg·g-1 (115.1 μg·g-1), while the median was 25.1 μg·g-1. We conclude that paints sold in Nigeria still contain a substantial amount of lead with increased risk of exposure to children, for whom domestic sources of lead exposure is more important than exposure through leaded petrol. We advocate the future use of lead-free paint and lead abatement in order to reduce childhood lead exposure. © 2006 SAGE Publications.