The Hidden Enemy
Oct 02 '00
Everyone knows the dangers of working with power tools and knives; some people are aware of the threats to health that Carbon Monoxide and Radon gas present. Unfortunately, lead, whether in paint or else where is much more common and can be much more destructive to one's health.
We have all heard jokes on television about eating too many paint chips as a child, while cliched, they would would be a lot more funny if there was not a significant kernel of truth behind them. Lead paint can be devastating for children, and deadly for adults. All the more shocking, lead paint is fairly common in America, despite being banned in 1903 by France and Germany, it was not until 1973, that the United States banned lead paint.
This means that a lot of older houses, especially in urban areas, are full of this toxic stuff. While intact lead paint on walls is not a threat to health, the dust, which is easily breathed in, is. Many older windows, with wooden sashes, are considered to by toxic by the federal government because of the high concentration of lead paint on them; this lead paint constantly rubs off as the window is opened and closed. Once in the air, the dust is breathed in unknowing people. The body, thinking that the lead is calcium, the two are very similar chemically, absorbs the toxin and stores it in the bones. The bones then secrete the lead into the blood stream, where it begins to do damage.
In adults, lead paint can lead to reproductive and neurological disorders. In children the effects are much worse; the lead can severely damage a child's mind, leading to a host of learning and behavior disabilities. Several studies have been done that show a link between ADD and lead paint exposure. One researcher has speculated that children exposed to lead paint have a greater likelihood of committing crime than those that don't - however, this research has not been finished to my knowledge.
While exposure from old windows and flaking walls is a big source of lead paint, a much greater level of exposure is created by renovating and/or remodeling a house or building that contains old paint. Woodwork, such as moldings, door and window frames, cabinets and cupboards, is the usual source of high levels of lead dust in these buildings - due to the fact that people want to strip away the paint on these pieces to expose the natural beauty of the engravings and carvings.
When sanding lead paint - or paint you are unsure about whether or not it contains lead - take each and every precaution. Since the dust sits for a very long time, lead exposure can happen years after the fact. Always wear a respirator mask designed to filter out lead paint - do not buy the cheapest you can - you get what you pay, spend the extra $10 on a cartridge based rubber mask, as opposed to a paper or cloth mask. Also, clean up all dust piles and scraps immediately after you have finished working - whether or not the project is done - with a good vacuum, try to get one with a HEPA filter, because non-HEPA vacuums can just blow the dust around and not retain it. Buy a HEPA air purifier and have it running on high while you're sanding, this will capture a lot of the smaller, airborne particles; try to buy one with an ionizer, which will make the dust more sticky and harder to kick up. Clean up all surfaces with water and damp rages - the water prevents the dust from getting airborne.
In addition to keeping the dust out of the air, try to keep the dust out of your tools as well, because the dust can rub off from the tools onto your hands and follow you around, contaminating areas that would otherwise be lead-free. Always work in a pair of spare clothes that you will throw away after the project is over; dust from your clothes can be brought home and begin to expose your family to this toxin. ALways wash your hands and face after sanding lead paint to make sure you don't accidentally eat or breathe in the dust. Most importantly, never sand down lead paint in a house you and/or your family live in.
How do you know if you have lead paint? The older your house is (prior to 1973), the more likely it is to have lead paint. Sometimes you can see the lead paint on old buildings that have not been restored, it is very thick (sometimes a quarter of an inch)and it is very difficult to scrape. Painting over lead paint on walls usually incapsulates it and prevents it from becoming a health threat. You can attempt to seal up lead paint on windows by using several coats of a thick oil-based primer and then a couple coats of a durable paint, however, it is best to replace these windows (newer windows are also easier to clean and more efficient, which saves you money); if new windows are not in your budget, you could install metal v-channels that would prevent the paint from rubbing together, which creates dust.
Even if you have a newer home, you may still be exposed to lead. Copper plumbing prior to 1985, might contain lead-based solder, which leeches into your drinking water - very old lead pipes do this too, but unless you live in an very old house, you probably don't have to worry about them. Also, leaded crystal and glass can leech lead into liquids stored in them. Fruits and vegetables grown in ground contaminated with lead can also cause lead exposure.
Lead is very deadly, and it is monumentally important to keep kids away from this toxic substance. If you live in a house with lead paint, you can buy testing kits at hardware store, you might want to see if your city or county has special lead-abatement programs. This is a serious public health threat - do not take it lightly.
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Member: Steve
Location: Toledo, OH
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