A young family shops for their first home. After seeing countless houses that are too big,
too small, too expensive, or too far from work, their realtor finally shows them the perfect
home. Grinning, they say, "It's perfect. We'll take it."
Later, at the realtor's office, they're busy with paperwork. The realtor hands them yet
another form to sign--a lead-based paint disclosure form. It states that, because the house
was built before 1978, there is a risk that the walls are painted with lead-based paint,
which can be hazardous to human health. But everyone is tired and cranky, and they
quickly forget about the form.
Although the instances of poisoning due to lead based paint are declining, situations like
the one described above are still remarkably common. People who live, work, or receive
childcare in buildings built before the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's 1978
ban on paints containing more than .06 percent lead are still at risk for lead poisoning.
The best way for house and apartment hunters to protect themselves is to educate
themselves about the risks, including the symptoms of lead poisoning, which homes are
most at risk, and what to do about lead based paint if it is found in a home.
Symptoms and Treatment of Lead Poisoning
Lead is a highly toxic substance, and even small amounts of lead can have serious health
consequences. Even at levels as low as 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood,
cognitive function is impaired and I.Q. drops by up to three points. The effects grow
more severe as lead levels increase.
Lead poisoning is especially dangerous in children, because their bodies absorb more of
the lead they're exposed to. Adults who ingest lead will only absorb about 11 percent into
their bodies, but children will absorb up to 75 percent. Lead from lead based paint can
also be absorbed into the body by breathing contaminated dust, so you don't have to
ingest lead based paint for it to cause health problems.
One of the reasons why lead poisoning is so damaging is because it can be difficult to
diagnose before it causes permanent damage. Early symptoms of lead poisoning can be
tough to distinguish from other illnesses, and include abdominal pain, headache, and
irritability. As lead accumulates in the body, it causes more serious complications. The
damage is usually irreversible.
In children, lead poisoning can cause:
- Learning problems
- Behavioral problems
- Attention Deficits
- Anemia
- Kidney problems
- Neurological damage
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
In adults, lead poisoning can cause:
- High blood pressure
- Damage to reproductive organs
- Bizarre behavior
- Listlessness
- Vomiting
- Altered consciousness
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
Some treatments are available to lower the concentration of lead in the bloodstream.
These treatments cannot reverse prior damage caused by lead poisoning, but can prevent
any further damage. These treatments, which include dimercaprol, edetate disodium
calcium, and duccimer, often have severe side effects and require close medical
supervision.
Avoiding Exposure to Lead Based Paint
Because lead poisoning causes such severe and long lasting consequences and is so
difficult to treat, avoiding lead is the best way to prevent the health problems associated
with it. According to the FDA, lead based paint is the number one cause of lead exposure
in American children. People who live in houses or apartments built before the 1978 ban
on paints with high concentrations of lead need to have their walls tested for lead based
paint, and if lead is found, need to know how to minimize their exposure.
Knowing the history of lead in paint helps consumers determine if their homes might be
affected. The older the home, the higher the chances are that its paint contains high levels
of lead. Lead was traditionally added to oil-based paints as a pigment and drying agent,
and about two thirds of homes built before 1940 contain paint with high concentrations of
lead. Lead paint is found in about half of homes built between 1940 and 1960, and can
also be found in homes built from 1960 to 1978. There is no painted surface that's
immune, since leaded paints can be found on the exterior or interior, on trim, and on
doors and windows.
Many people underestimate the risks of exposure to lead based paint, thinking that they're
safe because the food they eat doesn't come into contact with their walls. Lead is
insidious, though, and you don't have to ingest it for it to make you sick. As lead paint
deteriorates, it begins to "chalk" or flake off of walls. When flakes of paint are swept up,
stepped on, or brushed against, they turn into leaded dust, which is then inhaled. Children
are particularly at risk for exposure because they put toys in their mouths and crawl on
the ground. For example, a toddler who drops her pacifier onto a dusty floor and then
puts it into her mouth may both inhale and ingest the dust from deteriorating lead based
paint.
If you're worried that your home may contain lead based paint, then have a sample tested
for lead at a laboratory. Contact your local health department for a list of approved labs,
and follow the laboratory's instructions for collecting and storing samples to be tested. A
variety of home test kits are available, but they are not as reliable as testing by an
approved laboratory and may provide families with a false sense of security, since they
could give a negative result even if lead paint is present.
Removing Lead Based Paint
If you've fallen in love with a house or apartment that was built before 1978, don't
despair. If tests show that your dream house contains lead based paint, then consider
having the paint removed.
If lead paint is limited to trim, such as doors and windows, then having those items
replaced will remove your risk to lead exposure. Newer windows and doors are also more
secure and will lower heating and cooling costs, so you will triple your rewards by
replacing these items.
Licensed contractors can also remove the lead paint from contaminated walls, but this is
not a project that is safe for the average homeowner. It's best to have lead paint removed
before you move into your home, so that lead dust doesn't collect in bedding or other
belongings. The contractors must follow strict guidelines that require them to wear
specialized clothing, to seal off unaffected areas, and to clean up carefully after lead paint
has been removed. You won't be able to inhabit the house during lead paint removal.
If you've already moved into a house that contains lead paint and are financially unable to
have the lead based paint removed, then consider covering the paint as a short-term
solution. Consumers can cover lead paint with a sealant and paint over it, but covering
lead paint only delays the problem. As the new paint deteriorates, it will mix with the
lead paint and cause the same problems as before. If you choose to cover your lead paint,
don't sand or scrape old paint away as you prepare your surface for painting, as you may
release lead dust into the air. Clean all surfaces carefully with a wet cloth, use adequate
ventilation, and protect yourself from inhaling dust by wearing a dust mask or respirator.
There is no amount of lead based paint that is safe in a home. Whether you're shopping
for a home to buy, and apartment to rent, a place to work, or a daycare for your children,
be aware of the dangers of lead based paint. If you decide to buy a house built before
1978, be sure to test the home for lead paint and decide if you're willing to bear the cost
of renovations to remove lead paint. Finally, be aware of the symptoms of lead poisoning,
and have your family tested for lead exposure if it's possible that they've inhaled or
ingested substances contaminated with lead paint chips or dust.