Lead-based paint in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Lead-based paint in the United Kingdom
was banned from sale to the general public in 1992, apart from for specialist uses. Prior to this lead compounds had been used as the pigment and drying agent in different types of paint, for example brick and some tile paint
/lead sulphate) was added in substantial quantities as the main white pigment in some paint products intended for use as a primer or top coat over metal and wood, both internally and externally. Examples of where this type of paint may have been used are skirting boards, doors, door frames, stairs, banisters, window frames and sills, wooden flooring, radiators, and pipes, though it could also have been applied to any other surface at this time e.g. plaster walls.
Prior to this the concentration of white lead in paint rose to its highest levels between the years 1930 and 1955, as much as half the volume in some paints, meaning many post-war U.K. houses have significant amounts of lead in original paint layers.
In the 1950s, alternative white pigments, such as titanium dioxide
, were introduced.
In 1963 a voluntary agreement was made between the then Paintmakers' Association, now the British Coatings Federation, and the U.K. Government that resulted in labeling of paint that contained more than 1% of lead in dry film, with a warning that it should not be applied to surfaces accessible to children.
However white lead-based paints remained in the supply chain and were therefore still in use for some time.
Following this, white lead continued to be added to some paint available to professional decorators for specialist use. Additionally, paint with low white lead levels was applied as a thin primer coat to some pre-fabricated domestic wooden windows up until the early 1980s.
In 1992 European Union legislation was implemented within the U.K. by the Environmental Protection, part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA), as the Controls on Injurious Substances Regulations. This prevented the addition of lead to almost all paints except those intended for use in historic buildings and as artwork.
Similar red lead-based compounds were also widely used as a jointing compound in engineering, to form steam- or oil-tight flanged joints in pipework.
to some types of paint to ensure the paint surface hardened. In the 1960s this practice was phased out for ordinary paint available to the general public.
safety and compliance. LiPSA's objective is to prevent and ultimately to eliminate unnecessary childhood and occupational lead poisoning. LiPSA was founded by Tristan Olivier.
LiPSA's members include individuals and organisations, especially those in the area of lead paint testing and removal and offers web-based, email and telephone advice in relation to lead paint, including testing strategies. LiPSA also offers an emergency telephone support line for child lead poisoning and/or occupational exposure concerns.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was banned from sale to the general public in 1992, apart from for specialist uses. Prior to this lead compounds had been used as the pigment and drying agent in different types of paint, for example brick and some tile paint
White lead paint
Up until the early 1960s white lead (lead carbonateLead carbonate
Lead carbonate is the chemical compound PbCO3. It is prepared industrially from lead acetate and carbon dioxide.It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite.-Basic lead carbonates:...
/lead sulphate) was added in substantial quantities as the main white pigment in some paint products intended for use as a primer or top coat over metal and wood, both internally and externally. Examples of where this type of paint may have been used are skirting boards, doors, door frames, stairs, banisters, window frames and sills, wooden flooring, radiators, and pipes, though it could also have been applied to any other surface at this time e.g. plaster walls.
Prior to this the concentration of white lead in paint rose to its highest levels between the years 1930 and 1955, as much as half the volume in some paints, meaning many post-war U.K. houses have significant amounts of lead in original paint layers.
In the 1950s, alternative white pigments, such as titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. Generally it comes in two different forms, rutile and anatase. It has a wide range of...
, were introduced.
In 1963 a voluntary agreement was made between the then Paintmakers' Association, now the British Coatings Federation, and the U.K. Government that resulted in labeling of paint that contained more than 1% of lead in dry film, with a warning that it should not be applied to surfaces accessible to children.
However white lead-based paints remained in the supply chain and were therefore still in use for some time.
Following this, white lead continued to be added to some paint available to professional decorators for specialist use. Additionally, paint with low white lead levels was applied as a thin primer coat to some pre-fabricated domestic wooden windows up until the early 1980s.
In 1992 European Union legislation was implemented within the U.K. by the Environmental Protection, part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
(DEFRA), as the Controls on Injurious Substances Regulations. This prevented the addition of lead to almost all paints except those intended for use in historic buildings and as artwork.
Red lead
The lead-based pigments (lead tetroxide/calcium plumbate, or "red lead") were widely used as an anti-corrosive primer coating over exterior steelwork. This type of paint might have been applied to garden gates and railings, guttering and downpipes and other external iron and steel work. The 1992 European Union legislation stopped the sale of these types of paint to the general public.Similar red lead-based compounds were also widely used as a jointing compound in engineering, to form steam- or oil-tight flanged joints in pipework.
Coloured lead paint
Up until the early 1970s red, yellow, orange or green lead-based pigments (lead chromate) were added to a limited number of decorative coloured gloss and wall paints. Following this non-lead alternatives were used as pigments.Lead drying agent
Lead (lead naphthenate) was added as a drying agentOil drying agent
An oil drying agent is a coordination compound that accelerates the hardening of drying oils through chemical crosslinking. The catalysts affect the autoxidation of the oils with air...
to some types of paint to ensure the paint surface hardened. In the 1960s this practice was phased out for ordinary paint available to the general public.
Advocacy
The Lead Paint Safety Association (LiPSA) is a not-for-profit U.K. organisation that aims to promote awareness and best practice in lead paintLead paint
Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead, a heavy metal, that is used as pigment, with lead chromate and lead carbonate being the most common. Lead is also added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, retain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion...
safety and compliance. LiPSA's objective is to prevent and ultimately to eliminate unnecessary childhood and occupational lead poisoning. LiPSA was founded by Tristan Olivier.
LiPSA's members include individuals and organisations, especially those in the area of lead paint testing and removal and offers web-based, email and telephone advice in relation to lead paint, including testing strategies. LiPSA also offers an emergency telephone support line for child lead poisoning and/or occupational exposure concerns.