Up until 1978, when paints containing the toxic metal lead were banned in the United States, it was commonly used in homes. Lead in paint in your home is no problem if it’s in good condition. Sadly, that is usually not the case.
If ingested, or if dust containing lead is inhaled, it can cause serious health problems, including lead poisoning. Anyone can be affected badly by lead’s bad health effects. But specifically lead poisoning is most likely to hurt young children who are 6 years old and under. The reason for this is that young children grow at a very fast rate. Their brains are changing quickly, and [they] are therefore more vulnerable to the bad effects of lead poisoning. As if this weren’t enough, young children have a habit of putting things in their mouth. Due to this, they might chew on a windowsill with lead paint on it, or put dust containing lead in their mouths. Lead is also very dangerous to unborn babies. If lead gets into the mother’s system, it can hurt the baby causing premature birth, brain and nerve damage, and a low birth weight.
Now you know about why young children are more vulnerable to lead exposure. But what are the symptoms? If children have high levels of lead in their system, damage to the brain, kidney, and nervous system can occur. Learning and behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity is another symptom of lead poisoning. Slowed growth, headaches, hearing problems, and bone marrow problems all are symptoms of lead poisoning. Even if a child appears healthy, they still may have some level of lead poisoning, or may even be experiencing some of these symptoms.
Symptoms of lead poisoning in adults include anemia, hearing and vision loss, nerve problems, concentration and memory problems, muscle and joint pain, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and fertility problems in not only women, but [in] men, too.
If your home was built before 1978, there is a high likelihood it contains lead based paint. How can you tell? The older your house is, the higher the likelihood it contains lead based paint. If you don’t know if your house has lead based paint, but all the paint is in good condition, it is not a health hazard. If the paint is in good condition, it has no chipping, peeling, or signs that the surface has been broken. If you’re planning on disturbing the paint at all, find out first if your paint contains lead. This means if you’re planning a renovation, removing paint, or even if you’re just painting or doing touch ups, you’ll want to deal with possible lead based paint, so that you can avoid possible dangerous exposure. If you are planning on selling or renting out your home, it would be a good idea to test your home for lead. Landlords and sellers have a legal obligation to inform their renters and buyers about any lead based paint hazards in the home. The only way to know if the paint inside or outside your home contains lead is by testing for it.
There are three methods used to test for lead based paint in a home. The most extensive is an inspection. In an inspection, the inspector will identify all painted surfaces, including that under wallpaper, indoors and outdoors. All the surfaces will then be tested, either with a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), or collected and sent to a laboratory that has been approved by the EPA’s National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program. The XRF measures the amount of lead in paint without damaging it. The results are either positive (lead) or negative (no lead). If these results are not conclusive, samples of one – four inches squared will be taken and sent to a lab for more conclusive results. The report will identify the surfaces with lead. It does not indicate the condition of the paint. You would want this type of test if you are planning a renovation or going to paint, or having paint removed.
Another method of testing for lead based paint is called a risk assessment. In a risk assessment, deteriorating paint, along with paint which shows marks of children having bitten, mouthed, or chewed on it is tested. The painted surfaces which are in good condition are not tested. Along with paint, a risk assessment tests the dust in the house for lead. During a risk assessment, the soil in outside play areas, and the soil around the foundation is also tested. Usually the dust samples are taken from floors and windows using a wet wipe. Then the dust and paint samples are sent to a lab for analysis. A risk assessment tells you where there is lead in your home, so you can get rid of it. Because not all surfaces are tested, a negative report does not necessarily mean there is no lead in the home. Because a risk assessment report tells you steps to take to get correct lead based paint hazards, some homeowners have a paint inspection along with the risk assessment.
Another type of lead test, which is similar to a risk assessment but less extensive, is a hazard screen. It is more often done in homes with a lower lead risk. Two samples of dust are taken, one from the floors, and one from the windows. Unless there is evidence of paint chips in the soil, samples of soil are usually not taken. If a hazard screen shows there is a risk of lead, it is advisable to do a more extensive lead test.
Although there are home lead testing kits available, the EPA strongly recommends lead tests be done by a certified lead inspector, or a certified lead risk assessor. Home lead testing kits both don’t provide the accuracy of a professionally run test, and don’t provide the same amount of detail. It is also possible to gather your own paint samples to send to a lab. The information obtained from these samples, though, may not be as complete as what a professional would be able to get.
If you have found that your home contains lead based paint, there are temporary measures you can take. Immediately clean up any and all paint chips you find. Keep all play areas clean, and be very careful to ensure that children don’t chew on any surfaces or put anything that might have lead dust on it in their mouths. Clean dust off of all surfaces on a regular basis, using a sponge, mop, or a paper towel with warm water. If using a sponge or mop, completely clean it off afterwards. Remove shoes when coming in, so as to not track lead from soil into the house. If you rent, make sure to inform your landlord about the test results and that there is peeling and chipping paint. It’s also a good idea to feed your children well. According to the EPA, if children eat healthy, well balanced meals, they absorb less lead.
Although planting grass in places where the soil is bare reduces risk of lead exposure, it is by no means a permanent measure. The same is true of painting over damaged surfaces with lead-free paint. Although it is a good short term solution, the only way to be safe and permanently keep lead away from your family is to remove the paint.
