On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, in collaboration with Ecological Alert and Recovery-Thailand (EARTH) and Foundation for Consumers, held a press conference titled "Lead Still in Paint," presenting the findings of a study on lead in paint products after nearly 10 years of enforcement of the industrial product standards for alkyd paint coatings - safety (TIS 2625-2557).
Assoc. Prof. Adisak Plitponkarnpim, M.D., Director of the National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University, shared the latest data indicating that certain types of paint, particularly alkyd-based paints, still contain lead levels exceeding 100 ppm. This poses a severe health risk to children, particularly affecting brain function, the nervous system, and cognitive development, which can lead to a reduction in IQ and increase the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavioral problems in Thailand. Despite the TIS 2625-2557 standard limiting lead content in paints to no more than 100 ppm, the lack of requirements for displaying the lead content (ppm) or health warnings on product labels remains a significant concern. As a result, the call to action urges government authorities and relevant agencies to implement urgent measures.
The EARTH revealed the findings from a study of lead content in 55 paint samples from 45 brands sold in Thailand. The results showed that 11 samples from 10 brands exceeded the 100 ppm lead limit, with 7 of these samples from 7 brands containing lead levels higher than 10,000 ppm. The highest level of lead detected was 64,000 ppm. However, 44 paint samples did not contain lead levels exceeding the legally permissible limits, which demonstrates the capacity of the Thai paint industry to produce lead-free paints. The issue lies in the enforcement of regulations and the extent to which government agencies monitor and prioritize the safety of paint products against heavy metals.
Thailand has had regulations controlling lead content in alkyd-based paints used for both indoor and outdoor applications since January 2017, under the mandatory TIS 2625-2557 standard. This regulation requires the inclusion of warning labels about potential hazards, such as "Contains Toxic Substances" or "Keep Out of Reach of Children," to protect public health and raise consumer awareness of the risks associated with these products.
