Current Affair 1:

News:

Taken from WHO website:

Lead paint is a major source of exposure globally. WHO and UNEP lead the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint. It aims to encourage all countries to develop legally binding laws to control the use of lead in paint. As of January 2024, 48% of countries have legally-binding controls on lead paint.

India is a part of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint.

Does India have any law to regulate lead usage?

India has implemented several regulations to limit and control the use of lead due to its harmful health and environmental effects.

Lead in Paints

Mandatory Lead Limit: In 2016, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, India set a strict limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) for lead content in household and decorative paints. This aligns with international standards and aims to prevent health risks, especially in children.

Enforcement: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) enforces this limit and conducts inspections to ensure compliance among manufacturers, importers, and retailers.

Lead in Toys

Under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020, toys manufactured or sold in India must adhere to BIS standards, including limits on heavy metals like lead. The permissible lead content in accessible parts of toys is limited to 100 ppm.

These standards aim to protect children from exposure to lead, which can cause serious health issues if ingested or inhaled.

Lead in Food Packaging and Storage

India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set regulations to ensure that packaging materials, including containers for food, do not contain toxic heavy metals like lead. These regulations aim to prevent lead contamination in food and beverages.

Lead in Electronics and Batteries

1. E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: These rules, updated under the Environment (Protection) Act, limit lead and other hazardous substances in electronic devices. They require producers to use alternatives to lead in electronic components and establish collection and recycling systems to prevent environmental contamination.
2. Battery (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001: These rules govern the handling and disposal of lead-acid batteries, a major source of lead pollution. The rules mandate that manufacturers take responsibility for the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of lead-acid batteries.

Lead in Water and Air

Drinking Water Standards: The BIS sets the permissible limit for lead in drinking water at 0.01 mg/L to protect against health risks from contaminated water sources.

Air Quality Standards: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which include a maximum allowable lead concentration in the air of 0.5 µg/m³ (measured annually) to minimize lead exposure from emissions.

Lead in Cosmetics

The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, prohibit the use of lead and its compounds in cosmetics. Permissible levels for trace lead impurities are also set to prevent accidental exposure through skin contact.

Challenges and Enforcement

Despite these regulations, challenges remain, particularly with small-scale manufacturers and in informal sectors where awareness and compliance may be lower. Enforcement agencies like the BIS, FSSAI, CPCB, and local pollution control boards play a crucial role in monitoring and enforcing these standards.

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