Paint study

In February 2024, BBN and the Ministry in charge of the Environment (MoE) conducted a study with LEEP to determine the lead content of paints available to purchase in Burundi.

The BBN, the MoE, and LEEP tested paints manufactured in and imported into Burundi to indicate the extent to which paint is a source of lead exposure in the country.

The research team bought 47 samples of solvent-based paints, water-based paints, spray paints, and tints (also known as colourants) intended for home use from stores in Bujumbura. They visited a large number of paint stores to ensure all major brands were included. Where available, white, yellow, and red colours from each brand were purchased. If these colours were not available, similar colours were purchased.

19 brands were analysed in the study. 26 of the samples were from nine locally manufactured brands and the other 21 were from 10 imported brands. 28 of the samples were from solvent-based paints, six were from water-based paints, four were from tints, and the remaining nine were from spray paints.

All paints were analysed by a laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, USA for lead content based on dry weight using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The laboratory is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and it participates in the Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing program (ELPAT). The laboratory’s analytical methods and certifications are consistent with those recommended by the World Health Organisation for measuring lead in paint.

Results summary

The results showed that 13 out of the 47 samples (27%) contained hazardous levels of lead (greater than 90 ppm, the maximum level recommended by the WHO and UNEP). Of the 19 brands, 11 had at least one paint with lead levels exceeding 90 ppm. Seven of these lead paint brands were locally produced in Burundi, while the remaining brands appeared to be imported from China, India, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates.

Of the 13 lead paints, nine were oil-based, three were aerosol paints, and one was a tint. Nine of the lead paints were yellow colours, and four were red colours, indicating that lead pigments are likely the source of the lead.

Of the 11 lead paint brands, the market research found four to be “high” popularity, three to be “medium” popularity, and the others to be “low” popularity in Burundi (these are qualitative indicators based on our initial market research).

Some of the lead paints had significantly high levels of lead that were many times higher than the recommended 90 ppm limit. The highest lead content detected was 66,000 ppm, which is over 730 times the recommended limit.

Lead content of the 47 paint samples. 90 ppm is the maximum limit recommended by the WHO and UNEP.

Three major media outlets in Burundi covered the study results, (RTNB, Burundi Forum, and Akeza), increasing public awareness of the issue.

Compilation of media coverage of BBN, the MoE, and LEEP’s paint study, September 2024.

Regulation

In February 2024, LEEP and the BBN in collaboration with the MoE organised a workshop with key stakeholders to discuss the issue of lead in paint and potential next steps. Burundi currently has no legally binding controls on the use of lead in paint: therefore, one of the primary recommendations that the BBN made coming out of the workshop was to implement a regulation that will limit the use of lead in paint in Burundi. Motivated by the results of the paint study, in August 2024, BBN and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the support of LEEP, agreed on a plan to draft a regulation for the implementation of a mandatory standard on lead paint in Burundi. On 14 November 2024, following the BBN’s recommendation, the Minister of Commerce issued a communiqué announcing his intention to make the East African Community Standards on lead in paint, which have already been adopted, mandatory in Burundi. Economic operators and stakeholders will now have 60 days to provide their comments on this decision.

Representatives from LEEP, BBN, United Nations Development Programme, Ministry in charge of the Environment, and paint manufacturers at the workshop in February 2024 to discuss the issue of lead in paint in Burundi.

Manfacturer engagement

LEEP has contacted several of the manufacturers of the lead paints identified in the study.

To date, LEEP has received responses from all local manufacturers, who together produce nine of the 13 lead paints identified in the study. One manufacturer has reported to LEEP that they have already begun reformulating to lead-free paint, which LEEP plans to confirm with follow-up testing. The other lead paint manufacturers have informed LEEP that they are planning to transition to lead-free paint. We will continue to engage with the other lead paint manufacturers who have not yet confirmed their transition to lead-free.

Acknowledgements

LEEP thanks the excellent teams at BBN and the Ministry in charge of the Environment for their commitment to and partnership on this project.

Appendix

The following table shows the lead concentrations of the paints tested in the study:

Lead concentrations of paints tested.