VIJAYAWADA: The Guide Foundation For Development (GFFD) recently conducted a survey wherein only 15 per cent of the respondents were aware about the presence of lead in household paints.
The Foundation, an AP-based NGO working for promotion of safe environmental practices, with technical support from Toxic Links, a Delhi-based NGO working on environmental issues, held a lecture on Saturday on hazardous impacts of lead poisoning for students of SSR College.
It was part of the awareness campaign for International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action from October 21 to 27 to protect children aged up to nine years.
The survey depicted low awareness levels in the State with only 15 per cent of the respondents being aware about the presence of lead in household paints.
MKS Murali Krishna, CEO, GFFD, spoke about the surveys and studies undertaken by the foundation and its partner, NGOsnd spoke about certain facts that they had brought to light. Toxics Link released Lead in Paints report in 2018 to mark Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action 2018. The Foundation conducted paint sampling and survey for this report.
Two samples from AP contained a high concentration of lead i.e. 172921 ppm and 128211 ppm above the prescribed standard of 90 ppm.