Résumé : |
Lead poisoning has been one of the most important occupational diseases, and it remains a preoccupation even today. Exposure to lead is associated with adverse health effect, including permanent damage to the central nervous system. Though a number of lead exposure sources exist, including soil, dust and water, lead from lead-based paints is one of the most significant source of lead exposure. Lead exposure can result from the ingestion of paint chips or dust from deteriorating house paints or from improper paint removal. While lead is no longer used in house paints and the application of lead primers on steel structures is declining throughout the globe, old paints with hazardous levels of lead still remain on many surfaces today. Considerable body of scientific knowledge concerning the toxic effects of lead has been enriched in the past decade by significant new knowledge regarding the most subtle subclinical effects. Similarly in a number of countries it was felt necessary to redraft or modernise protective measures enacted over the last half century to abate the effect of lead poisoning on humans. This article discusses about the effect of lead on humans, legislations on lead, abatement of lead-based paints and technological alternatives for lead free paints. |