Webinar: Impact of Lead Exposure and Eliminating Lead Paint through Regulatory Action in the Caribbean

Date and time: October 27, 10:00 h (GMT-4).

Language: English

To participate, register here.

In recognition of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) through its Environmental Health Division, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Lead Paint Aliance (LPA), and CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), is facilitating a regional webinar on Lead Paint. 

The session aims to raise awareness and promote actions to address the health effects of lead exposure (especially to children), promote the UNEP Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint and provide guidance on how to eliminate lead paint through laws, regulations or enforceable standards, to stop the manufacture, import and sale of lead paints in the region.

There is no known safe level of lead exposure to humans without harmful effects including on the central nervous system, the reproductive system, the kidneys, the cardiovascular system, the blood and immune systems. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead where exposure can result in reduced IQ and attention span, and impaired learning ability. However, many countries have not taken action to ban or eliminate lead paint - it is still on the market. Government, policy makers, and industry are among the many stakeholders critical to the development of lead paint regulations/laws.

Speakers include:

• Ms. Mihaela Paun, Programme Management Officer, UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch.
• Dr. Kim Newton-James, Technical Officer, Chemicals and Solid Waste Management-CARPHA.
• Ms. Angela Bandemehr, International Environmental Program Manager U.S. EPA.
• Mr. Fulgence St.Prix, Technical Officer -Standards CROSQ.
• Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, Poison Information Coordinator Caribbean Poison Information Network.
• Ms. Tzarmallah Haynes- Joseph, Head Std. Dev St. Lucia Bureau of Standards-SLBS.
• Voices of the Youth: Ms. Kerryan Hall, 3rd Year Student BBA UTech, Jamaica. Ms. Shanice Searles, Form 1 St. Joseph’s Convent, Saint Lucia.

Moderators:

• Dr. Kim Newton-James, CARPHA.
• Vera Barrantes, PAHO/UNEP.