Experts urge strict enforcement of lead standards in paints and cookware
Experts have called for strict implementation of updated Bangladesh Standards (BDS) and strong legal enforcement to control the presence of lead in industrial paints, aluminium cookware and children's toys to safeguard public health and the environment.
They made the call at a high-level policy dialogue titled "Preventing Lead Poisoning and Updating Standards for Industrial Paints, Cookware and Toys" held in Dhaka on Sunday. The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), UNICEF, and the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO).
Former secretary and ESDO Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed attended the session as chief guest, while SM Ferdous Alam, Director General (Grade-1) of BSTI, was present as special guest. Md Saidul Islam, Director of BSTI's Standards Wing, delivered the welcome speech.
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Speaking at the event, Syed Marghub Murshed said, "Lead is a silent killer that is destroying our future generations, especially children, by damaging their cognitive and nervous systems. We must act now to control it. While progress has been made in decorative paints, strong action is urgently needed to eliminate lead from industrial paints, cookware and toys."
BSTI Director General SM Ferdous Alam said BSTI has already set a lead limit of 90 ppm for decorative paints — a benchmark in South Asia — and is currently formulating BDS standards for industrial, marine and automobile paints. He noted that recommendations from the policy dialogue will support updating and enforcing these standards effectively.
The session was chaired and moderated by Professor Dr Syed Md Samsuddin of Dhaka University's Department of Applied Chemistry. Other speakers included Professor Dr Md Arju Mia of Jahangirnagar University, Professor Dr Tahmina Shirin, Director of IEDCR, Siddika Sultana, Executive Director of ESDO, and Dr Pricilla Wobi, Health Specialist at UNICEF.
Representatives from NIPSOM, icddr,b, Asian Paints, Berger Paints, and the Paints Association also joined the discussion.
