塗料, 建物から収集した塗膜, および数種の子供用文具類中の鉛の分析

It has been recognized that lead poisoning in children in the United States is mainly caused by lead containing paints. In order to clarify whether children in Japan are safe from lead poisoning or not, we investigated lead contents in paints, paints covering pencils, wax crayons, water colors, and those in paint scrapings collected from the buildings of the National Institute of Hygienic Sciences and from its members' houses by the modified A.O.A.C. method. Consequently, considerable numbers of samples containing more than 0.06% of lead, which is the regulatory limit in the United States, were found : 10/31 in paints, 3/49 in paints covering pencils, 0/55 in wax crayons, 3/54 in water colors, and 19/68 in paint scrapings collected. From those analytical data, it was clarified that children in Japan are not always safe from lead poisoning and the further investigation should be undertaken to obtain more exact information.