Lead in interior and exterior paints of kindergartens in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova

The problem of childhood lead (Pb) poisoning has been recognised for more than a century and remains an important threat to children's health and development. In this study, paints have been sampled from various interior and exterior structures and equipment in 14 kindergartens from the city of Chişinău, Moldova, and analysed for lead by energy-dispersive X-ray florescence spectrometry. Lead was detected in 135 out of 165 samples and concentrations were above 90 mg kg^{- 1}, an internationally-recognised reference value, in 128 cases. Median and maximum concentrations were, respectively, 1414 mg kg^{- 1} and 71,580 mg kg^{- 1} in interior paints, and 2959 mg kg^{- 1} and 100,175 mg kg^{- 1} in exterior paints. Concentrations of lead were correlated with concentrations of Cr (also measured as part of the study), with evidence that many brightly coloured paints were pigmented by lead chromate. With no decoration histories available but leaded paints still on sale in Moldova, our observations suggest that both old, extant layers and newer coatings contribute to the presence and persistence of lead in the kindergartens. Recommendations to minimise exposure to children include establishing legally-binding controls limiting the lead content of new paint in Moldova and adopting measures for monitoring existing paint.