DAPAT umanong samantalahin ng Department of Education na walang estudyante para matukoy ang mga pintura na may lead na ginamit sa mga paaralan.
Sumulat ang EcoWaste Coalition kay DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones at hiniling na magsagawa ng lead paint hazard survey sa mga piling pampublikong elementary school sa Metro Manila.
“The delayed opening of classes for basic education offers a unique opportunity for DepEd to conduct the said survey and generate useful data while the students are on extended vacation due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” ani Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner ng EcoWaste.
Ayon sa EcoWaste ang pagsasagawa ng survey ay makatutulong upang masunod ang DepEd Order No. 4, s.2017 o ang “Mandatory Use of Lead-Safe Paints in Schools” at mga katulad na regulasyon ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, at piling lokal na pamahalaan.
Bago ang phase out ng lead paint noong Disyembre 31, 2019, maraming pintura ang ginamit sa mga paaralan, playground at iba pang lugar na pinupuntahan ng mga bata.
“Children are exposed to lead if they ingest lead-contaminated dust or soil on their hands or on objects such as toys, swallow lead paint chips, or breathe lead dust when surfaces coated with lead paint are disturbed, for instance, during renovation activities,” paliwanag ni Dizon.
Ang lead ay nakapagdudulot ng pinsala sa utak ng bata na nagreresulta sa learning disabilities, lower intelligence quotient, speech and language difficulties, hearing loss, attention deficit disorder, slow physical growth at behavioral problems. May masamang epekto rin ito sa fetus.
Kapag ang lumang pintura na may lead ay nabakbak o naging alikabok maaari itong masingkot o mapunta sa pagkain.