Determination of levels of lead in paints to which young children and adults are exposed.

39 PAGES (7594 WORDS) Analytical Chemistry Project

The Paint samples were gotten from old houses in areas of Ikorodu, Onipan, Lekki, Berger, Agbado-Ijaye, Lagos Island, Moremi and Makama hall (University of Lagos) and were digested using three different methods, which include

1) Nitric acid and per-chloric acid digestion

2) Nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide digestion

3) Dry ashing digestion using muffle furnace

    These methods were compared and was discovered that oil - based paints (gloss paints) has higher concentration of lead than water - based paints (emulsion paints).

    Lead is a very poisonous metal and should not be used in paints because of its harmful effect on human lives.