The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned parents, government ministries and agencies against painting children’s bedrooms, classrooms, hospital wards and sick bays with paint containing lead, citing the serious health risks associated with exposure to the toxic metal.
The General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, issued the warning in a consumer advisory on Thursday.
According to the agency, exposure to lead can significantly harm children’s health, learning abilities and overall development.
“To create safe environments where children can learn, sleep, and heal, only lead-free paint should be used,” Solebo said.
The agency called on residents to protect children by choosing lead-free paint and making informed purchasing decisions.
LASCOPA’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the health consequences of lead exposure globally.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. However, its widespread use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant public health challenges worldwide.
In a fact sheet released on Wednesday titled “Lead poisoning”, WHO stated that lead exposure affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age.
The global health body explained that lead is distributed to the brain, liver, kidneys and bones, where it can accumulate over time. Exposure is commonly assessed through blood lead measurements.
According to the organisation, lead exposure was responsible for more than 3.5 million deaths globally in 2023, mainly due to its cardiovascular effects.
The WHO further warned that lead stored in bones can be released into the bloodstream during pregnancy, exposing developing fetuses to the toxic metal.
“There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects,” the organisation stated, adding that the adverse health impacts of lead exposure are entirely preventable.
It noted that young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system and impair cognitive development.
In adults, prolonged exposure to lead has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and kidney damage. During pregnancy, exposure can result in reduced fetal growth and preterm birth.
LASCOPA urged consumers to report unsatisfactory products, poor services and violations of consumer rights through the agency’s official complaint channels, stressing that In Lagos, “consumers are Kings”.
