Objective To investigate the content of soluble metals in commercial interior wall paints with different quality, and to analyze the possible risk factors.

Methods The quality of commercial interior wall paints was classified into low level group, middle level group and high level group according to the price, brand and qualify factors. Samples were pre-treated by the method in GB 18582-2008. After the coated paints were dried, soluble metals were extracted by 0.07 mol/L HCl and detected by ICP-MS.

Results The content of soluble metals in the high level group was Pb (11.53±1.87) mg/kg, Cd(9.82±6.20) mg/kg, Cr(5.68±3.85) mg/kg and Hg(1.66±1.53) mg/kg, which were not exceeding the standard limits. The content of soluble metals in the middle level group was Pb (30.16±23.04) mg/kg, Cd(28.36±25.73) mg/kg, Cr(29.86±21.00) mg/kg and Hg(19.02±22.36) mg/kg, the unqualified rate of Cd, Cr and Hg was 8.3%, 16.7% and 16.7%, respectively. The content of soluble metal in the low level group was Pb (85.67±11.02) mg/kg, Cd(50.42±23.58) mg/kg, Cr(49.78±23.34) mg/kg and Hg(42.22±25.17) mg/kg, the unqualified rate of Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg was 33.3%, 16.6%, 33.3% and 25.0% respectively. The content of soluble metals in interior wall paints with different quality was different statistically (P < 0.05). The average recoveries and RSD were in the range of 86.2%~96.2% and 1.95%~3.55%, respectively.

Conclusions Transnormal soluble metals was widespread in commercially available interior wall paints with low and middle level quality, which suggested that the quality management and control in the production of interior wall paints should be strengthened by relevant production departments.