Lead causes health hazard to 88pc people

The use of lead in dye causes health hazards to 88 percent people in the country.
It was disclosed at a seminar on `bad effects of using lead-mixed dye' held at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Paribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) and Bangladesh Chemical Society jointly organised the seminar.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, ESDO researcher Dr Hossain Shahriar and Prof Jafar Mahmud of Dhaka University spoke on the occasion.
Dr Shahriar said children and aged people are vulnerable to lead-mixed dye. It hinders normal growth of human beings, he added.
About 77,220 tonnes of paint is being produced annually in the country by 37 companies, of which 98 percent carry lead more than the limit.
The dye is used in house painting, furniture, generators, switches, toys, ceramics, pipes, batteries and cosmetics which come to human body contact.
The speakers urged the government to take immediate steps to control the use of lead-mixed paint.