Campaign to alert residents on lead-based paints

One of the leading international names in the paint industry has launched an aggressive campaign across the Gulf region to alert residents about the harmful health effects of lead-based paints and put the spotlight on their toxicity.

Berger Paints, one of the oldest and well-established manufacturers of paint products, has called for greater consumer awareness and stringent government regulation which can go a long way in ensuring that consumers' well-being is protected from products that contain harmful ingredients.

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USPSC) have blamed lead-based paints as a major source of lead poisoning and have pointed out that children were especially at risk due to exposure to lead and other heavy metals contained in paints.

In children, lead poisoning has been found to cause irreversible brain damage and retard mental and physical development, while among adults it can cause poor muscle co-ordination, increase hypertension and damage to cardiovascular, renal, reproductive and gastrointestinal systems.

"While shade, colour and range are usually the determining factors for choosing the right paint, many consumers disregard important elements such as the ingredients that go into the making of the paints," said Mustafa Turra, regional marketing manager for Berger Paints. "By launching such a campaign, we wish to create a more knowledgeable customer who demands the safest paints for their homes."

Berger's decorative paint range, used in household and commercial applications, does not contain any lead additives or any other heavy metals, ensuring greater health safety for its consumers. Additionally, all Berger products come with the manufacturer's lead-free guarantee ("No Added Lead") in the form of a green logo on all paint cans.