The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) has called for urgent global regulatory action on lead chromates, warning that continued production and trade of the toxic substance is exposing millions of children worldwide to irreversible health risks.
The call was made on Friday in a statement marking the 2026 World Environment Day, with IPEN and its over 730 member organisations urging parties to the Rotterdam Convention to list lead chromates under its Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.
Such a listing would require exporting countries to notify and obtain consent from importing nations before shipping the hazardous chemical, a move the group says is critical to controlling its global circulation.
According to the statement signed by Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria), recent notifications by Morocco, Cameroon, Switzerland and Australia banning lead chromates in paints have created momentum for stronger international action ahead of the next Conference of Parties.
IPEN noted that member organisations in more than 20 low- and middle-income countries are currently assessing the trade and use of lead chromates and engaging their governments to support the proposed restrictions.
Sara Brosché, IPEN Science Adviser and Director of its Lead Paint Elimination Campaign, described lead-based paint as one of the most widespread sources of lead exposure in children.
“Controlling the production and trade of lead-containing paints is essential to prevent exposure, particularly in low- and middle-income countries,” she said, stressing that safer alternatives already exist.
In Nigeria, SRADeV raised concerns over persistent imports of lead chromates despite years of advocacy. Adogame disclosed that data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) showed that a small group of importers dominated the market.
He revealed that the top 10 importers brought in over 2,000 metric tonnes of lead chromates valued at more than N5 billion between 2020 and 2025.
“This highlights the gap between policy intentions and actual practice, and underscores the need for international controls to support national efforts,” he said.
IPEN also cited findings from its report, “Exporting Lead Poisoning: The Toxic Trade in Lead Chromates,” which revealed that despite domestic bans, regions such as the European Union continue to produce and export the substance.
The report showed that between 2020 and 2022, EU exports reached up to 48 countries, including nations with existing restrictions on lead paint. Similarly, India exported lead chromates to 78 countries within the same period, while Canada supplied about 4,000 metric tonnes annually to 65 countries.
Health experts warn that lead exposure, especially in children, can cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, reduced intelligence, behavioural disorders, and long-term cardiovascular and reproductive issues.
Globally, nearly 900,000 deaths are attributed to lead exposure each year, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for about 47,000 deaths. Nigeria remains one of the most affected countries, with an estimated 80 million children exposed to lead risks.
Children aged between 9 and 59 months are particularly vulnerable, as even low levels of lead in the blood can impair cognitive development and learning ability.
Nigeria has previously recorded severe outbreaks of lead poisoning, including the 2010 Zamfara crisis linked to illegal gold mining, which claimed about 400 children. Similar incidents have occurred in Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna states, while chronic low-level exposure persists across many communities.
Although over 120 countries supported a global phase-out of lead paint in 2009, IPEN noted that progress remains uneven. The organisation said its advocacy and research since 2007 have contributed to regulatory frameworks in regional blocs such as ECOWAS and the East African Community.
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However, it stressed that eliminating lead paint globally would require stricter regulation of the international trade in lead chromates.
The 2026 World Environment Day, themed “Now for Climate,” highlights the urgency of coordinated global action, with IPEN warning that addressing toxic chemical exposure must remain central to broader environmental and public health efforts.
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