Dangerous concentrations of lead have been detected in decorative paints sold across Bangladesh, posing a severe threat to public health, particularly to children’s brain development, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) in collaboration with the Lead Exposure Elimination Project and Instiglio, with support from UNICEF Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), was unveiled at ESDO’s office in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Researchers tested 161 paint samples collected from Dhaka and Chattogram. Of these, 57.8% complied with the national safety limit of 90 parts per million (ppm), while 42.2% exceeded it, some by staggering margins. One brand contained as much as 190,000 ppm, more than 2,000 times the legal limit.
Among the worst offenders, Kangaroo paint recorded the highest lead concentration at 190,000 ppm, followed by Euro at 170,000 ppm. Other contaminated brands included Nahar, New Tua, Modina Better Rubilack, Meghna Plus, Ramy, and Turkey.
The study revealed that yellow paints were the most contaminated (62%), followed by white (36%) and red (29%). Only 21.6% of all samples carried “Lead-Free” or “Eco-Friendly” labels.
Most high-risk products were traced to small-scale, unregistered local manufacturers and certain imported brands from China and Singapore, the report noted.
“Lead exposure severely damages children’s brain development and nervous systems,” warned Prof Dr Abul Hashem, senior technical adviser at ESDO. “Strict enforcement, mandatory labeling, and a complete phase-out of lead-based pigments are essential to protect public health.”
BSTI officials acknowledged ongoing challenges in monitoring unregistered producers but promised stronger oversight and enforcement.
Experts cautioned that without immediate action, millions of Bangladeshi children could suffer lifelong health consequences from lead exposure.
