We have heard the expression ‘paint the town red’ or ‘pant it red’. Two of the explanations for the origin of this expression are;

“According to Oscar Wilde, it’s Dante, The Inferno: “we are they who painted the world scarlet with sins.””

“An old Irish ballad contains the lines: The beacon hills were painted red/ With many a fire that night.”

https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-5465,00.html

Paint it white or red but don’t paint it lead

Lead as a toxicant affects children, pregnant woman and all those who are exposed to it. Effects can include risk in antisocial behavior, fertility risk of renal and cardiovascular disease and learning disability. Decaying lead pant releases dusts and flakes which contaminate the environment.

Infographics credit: WHO

In 2002 world summit on Sustainable Development participating governments called for phasing out of lead paint. The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead paint is working towards the phasing out of lead paint with below targets.
2013: 30 countries
2015: 70 countries
2020: All countries

Further reading

Operational framework for the global alliance to eliminate lead paint
Business plan for the global alliance to eliminate lead paint 
Progress report on achievement of the indicator for national awareness activities on the risks of lead