LEAD PAINT

Generally speaking, having lead paint in a home is not a problem.

It becomes a significant problem when lead paint is present and young children, under the age of 6, or pregnant women are present or when you create lead dust during renovations or repairs.

For the most part we are talking about houses that were built prior to 1978, but homes built after that can also have lead paint in them.

Most paint sold today for residential use is considered lead safe.

But Industrial paints or auto paints can still contain significant levels of lead in them. If those paints are used in a home then it can present a concern.

The greatest concern is how it affects small children under 6 years of age, or pregnant women.

The reason is lead paint effects them the most.

If a small child ingests lead paint, because of his size, it will have a significant effect on his body. This is also true with pregnant women because whatever the women ingests passes straight thru to the unborn baby.

There are several ways that the lead can get into the body. With young children it is ingestion, not necessarily only chewing on paint chips….but the ingestion into the body of lead paint dust that the child gets on his fingers from crawling around on the floor. The dust gets on the floor by the normal wear and tear of a house, as window/door or other house components move against each other they create dust that then settles onto surfaces. This dust then finds its way onto the fingers, which in small children usually end up in the mouth.

There are many types of “fixes” for lead paint….some inexpensive, some very expensive. Testing for lead paint in a home usually involves the use of a very expensive gun which uses radiation to detect lead in a surface. This type of test can cost several hundred dollars.

I always tell my clients that if you are not sure, then assume it is lead and act accordingly, or get it tested by a trained lead inspector/risk assessor.

If you are doing renovation work that can present a very real hazard that needs to be taken into account. Power sanding or any kind of abrading of lead paint surfaces can create dust. While you are doing the actual work you will be breathing the lead dust fumes right into your lungs….this can cause lead poisoning very quickly.

There are some very real and significant health effects to lead paint exposure.

As a homeowner you need to be aware of these dangers and act accordingly.

Below are some very informative sites explaining lead paint and its associated hazards. Explore them and become educated about lead paint.

We hope they are helpful…..

Minnesota Department of Health’s “Lead in the Home”

HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

EPA’s “Indoor Air Quality– Lead”

HUD"S LEAD-Based paint Disclosure Rule

National paint & Coatings Association

EPA's Lead Paint Awareness Program

State of Oregon Lead paint

JA Mersereau & Associates, Inc. is not responsible for the authenticity or accuracy of information contained within other websites recommended by us. They are intended for informational purposes only. We do not have control over content or accuracy. Products and services that are mentioned or advertised within this site do not carry any kind of endorsement by JA Mersereau & Associates, Inc.

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Last modified: 04/02/08