Lead-based consumer paint remains a global public health threat

Although lead content in paint has been restricted in the United States since 1978, University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers say in major countries from three continents there is still widespread failure to acknowledge its danger and companies continue to sell consumer paints that contain dangerous levels of lead.

In that study, 75 percent of the consumer paint samples tested from countries without controls - including India, Malaysia and China - had levels exceeding U.S. regulations.