A kid after undergoing face-painting. Most decorative paints have been found to contain high levels of lead that could be detrimental to childhood development. [Photo: coolmompics.com]A study carried out by IPEN, an international lobby which promotes safe chemicals, and Kenya-based Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) shows that many decorative paints are laced with illegal amounts of lead.Thousands of Kenyan children are still exposed to lead poisoning as a result which can have lifelong health impacts, including learning disabilities, anaemia, and disorders in coordination, visual and language skills.According to the Star, half of all decorative paints analysed in Kenya and 14 other African countries contain lead levels that are illegal in most developed countries.The report that was released on Sunday, also indicates that more than a quarter of the paints contain dangerously high lead level."The health impacts of lead exposure on young children’s brains are lifelong, irreversible and untreatable," head of CEJAD, Griffins Ochieng, said as quoted by the Star.Ochieng added that few paints carry consumer information about the lead content or the dangers associated with lead exposure."We are limiting our children and our nations future intellectual development, even though safe and effective alternatives are already in use and widely available. We must reduce this critical source of lead exposure to young children," the report says.Children, especially those under six years, ingest or inhale lead through exposure to dust or soil contaminated with lead-based paint, Dr Sara Brosché, IPEN’s Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaign Manager said.

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