Lead Paint
Why is Lead Used in Paint?
Historically, lead was used to create different pigment in paints and coatings. In modern times lead additives reduced the drying times of paint, increase its durability and its resistance to corrosion causing moisture.
Why is Lead Paint Hazardous?
Children ingesting lead paint can experience permanent damage to their nervous systems as well as stunted growth, kidney damage, and delayed development.1 Since lead paint has a sweet taste it is particularly problematic for young children who frequently mouth objects within their reach. Studies are also showing how dust containing tiny bits of lead paint chips is a greater risk to children then the direct eating of lead paint.2
Where is Lead Paint Found?
Lead paint was used extensively in residential and commercial building until it was banned by the U.S. government in 1978. This is especially true with structures built prior to the 1950s.
The government stopped the residential use of lead paint, but it did not deal with the 3 million tons of old lead that line the walls and fixtures of 57 million private American homes (74% of all housing stock at the time).3 According to the Center for Disease Control, 25% of those houses have kids under age 6 residing in them.4 This lead poisoning exposure escalates when restoration and remodeling of older buildings disturbs the lead paint encapsulated under layers of modern, safer paints. How is Lead Paint Identified?
Simple testing determines the presence of lead-based paint. Easy-to-use home test kits are available to homeowners at local home improvement centers and hardware stores. These kits usually contain a swab stick that changes color when touched to paint containing lead.
How is Lead Paint Identified?
Simple testing determines the presence of lead-based paint. Easy-to-use home test kits are available to homeowners at local home improvement centers and hardware stores. These kits usually contain a swab stick that changes color when touched to paint containing lead.
Swab testing may not work in situations where old lead paint is covered with newer coats of safe paint. However, lead contained in sub-layers can be detected using a handheld XRF device designed to penetrate all layers of paint to identify if any contain lead.
Do Other Consumer Products Contain Lead Paint?
Yes. Lead paint can be found in a variety of home products including vintage furniture and toys. It is also found on modern toys and jewelry particularly those imported from China. These products are a major concern as young children frequently chew, suck and bite their playthings.
How is Lead Paint Removed?
Although some states allow homeowners to do the work themselves, a contractor who is certified in lead paint removal is trained to do the job safely and will determine the best abatement strategy. This is an extremely important precaution as is demonstrate with the following statistic:
About half the lead poisoning cases treated by a Washington D.C. facility (Kennedy Institute) resulted from houses where lead paint was improperly removed.5
What Are Safe Remediation Methods?
There are three commonly used methods:
Encapsulation
This is typically the least complicated and most affordable method. It involves brushing or rolling on a specially made paint-like coating that creates a watertight bond and seals in the lead-based paint. However, this method is not appropriate on friction surfaces such doors and windows where opening and closing activities typically wear off the protective coating.
Enclosure
With this method, the old surface is covered with a new one such as drywall boards or covering windowsills with aluminum or vinyl cladding. If the enclosed surface is ever removed, renovators have to be mindful of the lead-containing surfaces underneath.
Removal
A variety of approaches are used to remove lead-based paints, such as wire brushing or wet hand scraping with liquid paint removers. However, care must be taken to contain the paint being removed, limit the dust that can be created with these activates and dispose of the waste in a responsible manner.
Some sources suggest removing lead paint using a low-pressure heat gun. This, however, is a dangerous method because it causes easily inhaled lead fumes that are highly toxic.
Lead-contaminated dust can be cleaned off household structures and objects using a commercial product known as TSP (Trisodium Phosphate). The product is available as a liquid, powder or in convenient wipes.
References
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (August 2007). “ToxFAQs™ for Lead”. Center for Disease Control.
- Did You Know a Speck of Lead Dust, as Small as a Grain of Sand Can Poison a Child? Bust Lead Dust, Jennifer Galluzzo, October 11, 2011 (retrieved October 30, 2014)
- Preventing Lead Poisoning of in Young Children, Statement by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chapter 3, retrieved from CDC website October 30, 2014.
- The Prevalence of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in U.S. Housing, Environmental Health Perspect, Jacobs DE, Clickner RP, Zhou JY, et al. 2002;110 :A599– A606
- Lead and Your Kids, Newsweek, March 13, 2010
