In a move to promote safer paint manufacturing and reduce toxic exposure, authorities are conducting a comprehensive national assessment of lead levels across the country. The results will contribute to a National Strategy for Lead Risk Control, according to government sources. When lead-based paint starts to deteriorate in homes or schools, it releases dust that can be inhaled or swallowed, putting people especially children at risk of serious health problems. ALSO READ: Govt warns paint factories over usage of hazardous chemicals The World Health Organisation’s 2024 report on lead reveals alarming evidence of how this toxic metal continues to harm people and the planet. It details the sources, exposure routes, and health impacts of lead contamination. Experts warn that lead, a persistent pollutant once valued in paint formulas, can cause lasting harm to both human health and ecosystems. They also note that lead once played a key role in enhancing the brightness and longevity of paint. With new regulations limiting its use, some people believe current paints are of lower quality. However, experts warn that this pollutant poses serious health and environmental threats since it is non-biodegradable; meaning it cannot decompose naturally, and even low concentrations can cause lasting harm. ALSO READ: Chemical exposure: Unmasking the risks to human health Environmental specialist Abbias Maniragaba says lead can harm human health and pollute the environment. “Lead exposure poses serious health risks,” Maniragaba warned. “In children, it can damage the brain and nervous system, leading to learning difficulties, lower intelligence quotient (IQ), speech and movement problems, and poor body coordination.” He also added that among adults, lead is linked to kidney damage, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a weakened immune system. “Pregnant women are especially vulnerable, as exposure can cause miscarriages or low birth weight in infants. Although lead was once common in water pipes and vehicle fuels, its presence today is mainly traced to residual contamination in paints and some urban environments,” said Maniragaba. ALSO READ: REMA sounds warning on dangers of toxic paints As the government is intensifying efforts to study and curb lead contamination in paints, VIVA BENDITA Ltd, a paint manufacturing company that specialises in producing water-based paints, talked about how it is taking steps to comply. Production Manager Adeodatus Kanyarutoni at VIVA BENDITA Ltd, said the company has aligned its operations with national standards aimed at phasing out toxic substances and ensuring safer, water-based paints for consumers. We are relying on suppliers who provide us with products that are lead-free. Before distribution, these products are first verified by the LEEP to ensure they meet safety standards,” he noted. “Furthermore, we are planning to label our products clearly as lead-free, a new strategy intended to encourage client awareness about the dangers of lead in paints. It is clear that paint industries are adapting to being lead-free,” he added. Laura Silovsky, Program Manager at LEEP, an international NGO working to end childhood lead poisoning, emphasized that there is no safe level of lead exposure. She noted that Rwandan paint manufacturers are now using lead free ingredients. “This means they now use lead-free pigments, driers, and resins; the main ingredients that give paint its colour, texture, and drying power. Their experience shows that safe, high-quality, and affordable paints can be produced locally. The materials and technology are readily available, and it makes good business sense to switch. Consumers want safer products, and companies that keep using lead risk being left behind,” she noted.
