What is Lead Based Paint?
What is Lead Based Paint?
One of the major health and environment issues today is lead paint. Lead based paint contains lead as the title implies. Lead is a heavy metal added to paint for the purpose of speeding drying time, increasing durability, helps to maintain a fresh a fresh appearance and helps to resist moisture.
Most of the older homes built before 1978 contain lead paint. 1978 was the year that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission lowered the lead standards to a trace.
It is highly recommended that homes built before the 1980’s be tested for lead paint before renovations or if the paint surfaces are deteriorating. These tests are especially important if there are children, pregnant women or infants living in the home.
Lead-based paint is a health hazard for adults as well as children.
Lead poisoning in adults can cause nerve damage, poor muscle coordination and irritability. It is also known for increasing blood pressure. Reproductive organs can also be affected in both males and females.
In children, lead poisoning can cause brain damage that is irreversible. Lead poisoning can slow development in children mentally and physically; thus reducing attention spans. Even low levels of lead can affect a fetus with slow development.
Both adults and children should be screened by local health departments while residing in older residences.
How are most people exposed to lead? It is through inhaling lead dust and can occur in the following common circumstances.
Lead paint chips, chalks and peels from surfaces
Paint chips on a floor when moved.
Open and close a window with this paint present
There may be deposits in homes from leaded gasoline
Sanding and scraping lead based paint.
Dust can settle on floors and furniture where children are vulnerable to ingest it.
Dust can re-circulate through the air from any movements.
Have your home tested for this paint and take steps to reduce exposure. You can:
Replace the items with lead based paint.
Repaint the surface.
Have the lead based paint removed by professionals.
Resources for the removal of lead based paint can be found at your state and local health departments. HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) developed guidelines for lead based paint removal.
Concerning real estate transactions, congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act in 1992. This is also known as Title X and protects families from lead exposure in paint, dust and soil. Both HUD and EPA require disclosure of known information of lead based paint in most housing built before the year of 1978.
Consumers should be aware of these know hazards and take every prevention available.
Categories: Buying, Selling
Tags: Lead Based Paint Environmental Issues Health Hazzards
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