Time was when lead-based driers and other driers were needed in both house paint and artist’s paints.
Whites and yellows do look better with lead carbonate as pigments, and they don’t dissolve in water. Nice, but at what cost?
Is it worth it to be durable and washable? Nah.
Vomiting. Madness. Death.
I say no.
So what’s the problem?
Money.
Alternatives to lead compounds in paints work: inks, glazes and other coating products, making lead use unnecessary. Lead is simply cheaper, so makers defend it.
Lead paint is still sold in stores in at least dozens of countries around the world, despite knowing the harm. Even in the U.S., Canada and Europe, it is legal to use “industrial” lead paints for many applications.
Although lead paint has been restricted from use in residential applications since 1978, lead is still sufficient today to severely poison a young child.
Surveys in the U.S. have shown that homes with only intact lead paint have more lead dust than homes without any lead paint.
Forget ‘kids eat paint chips. Most exposures come from the lead dust. Even houses with undamaged lead paint have higher levels of lead inside and outside.
Lead dust contaminates the house and soil outside through normal ageing, friction and impact (e.g. windows and doors), and weathering of outdoor paint.
In the EU, lead paint can now still be used, but just for the restoration and maintenance of works of art and historical buildings. In the US, lead paint is still used on ship hulls.
Related reading: Following the recall of millions of ‘toxic toys’, Chemistry World finds out why lead is added to paint, and why it’s so toxic.
In 2007, Mattel, the toy maker, recalled millions of toys that were coated with lead paint. 2007!!
Oh, I forgot… MADE IN CHINA.
China claims to be gradually cracking down on the use of lead.
They are true capitalists: lead paint is cheaper than the alternatives.
Why lead?
Money.
Related reading:
It is difficult to safely remove lead paint: when you try, you release lead dust and poison the area. LINK TO POSTS
Only hire experts in lead removal. Be prepared to pay: the best way to remove it is often to replace large building components.
Related: Why did they use lead anyway?
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Much of this comes from the US gov: http://www.hud.gov/contactus/lead-based-paint
Feel free to comment.