Renovating an Old Home? Know the Risks of Lead Paint Exposure

Lead Paint is a huge concern when renovating an old home. If you are homeowner renovating a home built before 1960 or even later, learn about lead paint exposure, how it affects young children and pregnant woman, and how to prevent lead poisoning in your home.

What is Lead Exposure?

Oil lead-based paint is the largest source of lead exposure in the U.S. today.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states on their website that, “Most home built before 1960 contain heavily leaded paint and some home built as recently as 1978 may also contain lead paint”. The improper removal of this paint that occurs when it is sanded, dry-scraped or burned in removal processes causes human exposure to lead dust which can be ingested and/or inhaled.

Health Effects

Lead poisoning is extremely dangerous to almost all of the human body systems. The major organ systems most heavily affected are the central nervous system, digestive tract and renal system (urinary tract). The affects of lead poisoning can be seen more so in individuals who have had exposure to lead dust over a long period of time. Chronic exposure may cause the following symptoms:

• Stomach aches, cramping, constipation, diarrhea
• nausea, vomiting
• persistent, unexplained fatigue
• headache
• muscle weakness

Woman who are pregnant can pass lead poisoning on to a fetus causing behavioral symptoms in that child down the road. Woman with exposure to high levels of lead dust might see the following symptoms in their child as he/she develops after birth:

• irritability or aggressiveness
• hyperactivity, impulsiveness
• learning problems
• loss of appetite
• lack of interest in play

Prevention

To prevent lead poisoning,  Take these safety precautions when remodeling or renovating your older home:

1) Separate Work Space from Living Space
Keep any areas of the home being remodeled separated from their living area of the home with some type of barrier. Plastic sheeting properly installed or some type of exhaust ventilation system might be the best bet. See the EPA’s reccomended process for using ventilation to contain dust>

2)Play Areas Must Be Dust Free
Keep any areas of the home where children pay clear of dust. Regularly wash toys and stuffed animals to keep them clean.  Make sure children wash their hands before meals, nap time and bed time. Also, be sure not to track lead dust into the house on shoes.

3) Not Fire Safe
Any painted wood from your home may contain lead paint. Reduce lead exposure by making sure not to burn any old painted wood from your remodel project in your fireplace or in your yard.

4) Hire a Professional
Professional contractors should know the best practices when it comes to removing lead paint and reducing contamination in your home. Call you local state health or housing department for information about testing your home for lead paint. If your home contains a high level of lead paint that needs to be removed- be sure to contact a professional for advice on removing the paint safely.

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