Mwai Lilian, Onyatta John, Were Faridah Hussein
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Heliyon. 2023 Jan 12;9(1):e12831. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12831. eCollection 2023 Jan.
Lead (Pb) is added to automotive paints to prevent corrosion on metallic surfaces, for decorative colours, and for reflective properties to heighten visibility, and enhanced drying time, and durability. However, there are substitutes for all of these applications and Pb is highly toxic to human health and the environment. Through concerted efforts, leaded gasoline was phased out and currently, the focus is on lead-based paints. Leaded automotive paint used for spray painting activities often conducted in close proximity to human habitation raises public health concerns over possible exposure. This study was therefore undertaken to assess Pb levels in automotive paints frequently used by informal spray painters. A total of thirty-two (n = 32) cans of automotive paints were purchased in 4 sets of red, blue, green and white colours from eight formal and informal retail shops. Lead levels in the paint samples were analyzed in triplicates using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. All the automotive paints from the informal retail shops had Pb levels that ranged from 220 to 2740 ppm, and exceeded the regulatory limit of 90 ppm. The blue paint from the informal store had the highest Pb levels which were 30 times of the set limit. On the contrary, the paints from the formal stores had significantly (p < 0.05) lower Pb levels that ranged from 80.7 to 580 ppm than those of the informal stores. Although only one paint sample from the former retail shop had Pb levels within the limit. In general, the elevated Pb levels in automotive paints that are used in an unregulated environment are potential sources of exposure and environmental contamination. The study urgently calls for enforcement of the regulatory limits and comprehensive Pb exposure assessments in this sector.
铅（Pb）被添加到汽车涂料中，用于防止金属表面腐蚀、提供装饰性颜色、具备反光特性以提高可见度、缩短干燥时间并增强耐久性。然而，所有这些用途都有替代品，而且铅对人类健康和环境具有高毒性。通过共同努力，含铅汽油已被逐步淘汰，目前，重点在于含铅涂料。用于喷漆活动的含铅汽车涂料通常在靠近人类居住的地方进行，这引发了公众对可能接触铅的健康担忧。因此，开展了本研究以评估非正规喷漆工常用的汽车涂料中的铅含量。从八个正规和非正规零售店购买了四组红、蓝、绿、白颜色的总共32罐汽车涂料。使用原子吸收分光光度法对涂料样品中的铅含量进行了三次分析。非正规零售店的所有汽车涂料铅含量在220至2740 ppm之间，超过了90 ppm的监管限值。非正规商店的蓝色涂料铅含量最高，是规定限值的30倍。相反，正规商店的涂料铅含量显著（p < 0.05）低于非正规商店，在80.7至580 ppm之间。尽管前零售店只有一个涂料样品的铅含量在限值内。总体而言，在无监管环境中使用的汽车涂料中铅含量升高是潜在的接触源和环境污染源。该研究迫切呼吁执行监管限值并对该行业进行全面的铅接触评估。
