Publication:

Urgent attention needed towards street-performing children exposed to toxic metallic paint in Pakistan

Around the globe, children performing on streets have been involved in performances making themselves visually attractive to earn a living; which frequently involves painting their body and face. With limited regulatory oversight children are exposed to these hazardous chemicals through these informal economic activities. This issue has been alarmingly escalating in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan. Additionally, in urban Karachi this sight is very common to witness children in gold or silver metallic paints at traffic signals and tourist hotspots like Khayaban-Ittehad and Seaview; that too in this scorching heat to earn a minimal wage. These metallic paints; often inexpensive and unregulated contain harmful chemicals like lead, aluminum and other heavy metals posing a serious health concern.