Seventy-three percent of consumer paint brands tested from 12 countries in one study has shown that the brand surpasses the U.S. standard of 600 parts per million (ppm) for lead in paint, said Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

• Enamel paints have higher concentration of lead with most of them showing a concentration of more than 1000 ppm.

• Painters who scrap paints may end up with acute lead poisoning with abdominal pains.

• Some paints may have Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) causing asthma and cough. VOCs are organic chemical compounds that vaporize and enter the atmosphere. VOCs include aldehydes, ketones, and hydrocarbons and may be either organic compounds or mixtures of varied composition.

• ‘Chuna’ (limestone) used to whitewash houses is safer to use than the high end paints available in the market.

• Lead exposure may lead to weakness in fingers, abnormal blood pressure, anemia and severe damage to brain and kidneys.

• Dry hacking cough can occur due to exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a well-known sensitizing agent, and one of the chemical components in the car paint sprays.

• Many of the toxic effects of lead are reversible if lead poisoning is identified early.

• Asthmatics should avoid entering a freshly painted room