Lead is a toxic metal which was used for years in many household items because it is malleable and resists corrosion. It melts easily and quickly. It can be molded or shaped into thin sheets and can be drawn out into wire or threads. Lead also is very resistant to weather conditions. Lead and lead compounds are toxic and can present a severe hazard to those who are overexposed to them. Whether ingested or inhaled, lead is readily absorbed and distributed throughout the body.
Why is Lead a Health Concern?
Lead is poisonous because it interferes with some of the body’s basic functions. A human body cannot tell the difference between lead and calcium, which is a mineral that strengthens bones. Like calcium, lead remains in the bloodstream for a few weeks. Then it is absorbed into the bones, where it can collect for a lifetime.
Lead can affect anyone, but children ages 6 and younger face special hazards. In part, this is because the bodies of children in this age group develop rapidly. It is also because young children tend to put things in their mouths.
It is important to know that even exposure to low levels of lead can permanently affect children. In children, low lead levels can cause: ·Nervous system and kidney damage. ·Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence. ·Speech, language, and behavior problems. ·Poor muscle coordination. ·Decreased muscle and bone growth. ·Hearing damage. While low-level exposure is most common, exposure to high levels of lead can have devastating effects on children, including seizures, unconsciousness, and, in some cases, death. Although children are especially susceptible to lead exposure, lead can be dangerous for adults too. In adults, high lead levels can cause: ·Increased chance of illness during pregnancy. ·Harm to a fetus, including brain damage or death. ·Fertility problems (in men and women). ·High blood pressure. ·Digestive problems. ·Nerve disorders. ·Memory and concentration problems. ·Muscle and joint pain.
Lead poisoning is not easy to detect. Sometimes no symptoms occur, and sometimes the symptoms are the same as those of more common illnesses. Some of the early signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children are: ·Persistent tiredness or hyperactivity. ·Irritability. ·Loss of appetite. ·Weight loss. ·Reduced attention span. ·Difficulty sleeping. ·Constipation.
Key signs of lead poisoning in adults include: ·Gastrointestinal discomfort/ constipation/ anorexia/ nausea ·Fatigue/ weakness ·Personality changes ·Headache ·Hearing loss ·Tremor, lack of coordination Where Can Lead Be Found? Lead-based paint is a common source of lead poisoning.Chipping, peeling paint and paint dust from lead-based paint need particular attention (see following sections on prevention and mitigation).Lead can also contaminate soil from chipping exterior lead-based paints, residue from past use of leaded gasoline in cars, or sources of industrial pollution, including smelters.Other common sources of lead include: ·Vintage toys and furniture painted with lead-based paint ·Drinking water which flows through lead pipes or pipes with lead solder ·Some imported candies ·Lead glazed pottery or porcelain ·Solder (electrical/hobby) ·Some folk remedies (greta and azarcon) ·Some cosmetics, like some forms of kohl ·Lead shot, bullets ·Fishing sinkers ·Food stored in cans with lead solder
How To Prevent Lead Poisoning If you think your home has lead-based paint, take these simple steps to help protect your family: ·Keep your home clean by washing floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or a sponge with a solution of water and an all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead to clean up dust. Clean up paint chips using a wet sponge or rag. ·Completely rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas. ·Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil. ·Have children play in grassy areas instead of soil. ·Never allow children to play under windows or around painted surfaces that often rub together or get bumped. ·Make sure children wash their hands after playing outside and before eating or going to bed. ·Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly. ·Keep children from chewing on painted surfaces, such as window sills, cribs, or playpens. ·Make sure you and your family eat a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and high in calcium and iron. Include foods such as fish, green vegetables, milk, and cheese. ·Use cold water for drinking or cooking since lead is more likely to leach into warm or hot water. One important step in protecting your family is to provide a healthy diet which will reduce the absorption and effects of lead in the body.Especially for children, empty stomachs and poor diet allow for lead to be absorbed more easily.So be sure to include the following foods on a daily basis.
Iron-rich foods:normal levels of iron help protect the body from the harmful effects of lead.Iron-rich foods include lean red meats, fish, and chicken; iron-fortified cereals; and dried fruits such as raisins and prunes. Calcium-rich foods:Calcium reduces lead absorption and also helps make teeth and bones strong.Good sources of dietary calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and collards. Vitamin C-rich foods:Vitamin C and iron-rich foods work together to reduce lead absorption.Vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit), tomatoes and tomato juice, and green or red peppers.
How To Mitigate Lead Before beginning a remodeling, renovation, or interim control project on your own home, it is important to plan. For example, decide where you will begin and how long the project will take. It is also important to get the right equipment to protect you and your family from lead exposure. If the area to be remodeled is greater than two square feet, it is recommended to hire a certified, trained lead abatement contractor to do the work.
Necessary Equipment: NIOSH-certified respirator with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.You should wear a properly fitted respirator equipped with a HEPA filter, which is always purple, when doing any work that might create lead dust. A respirator will filter lead dust particles out of the air you breathe. When you buy your respirator, make sure you have a “fit check.” Most stores that sell respirators have salespeople who can perform this test. HEPA filter-equipped vacuum cleaner.This is a special type of vacuum that removes small lead particles from floors, window sills, and carpets, and stores them inside the vacuum cleaner. Household vacuums will not work; their exhaust systems release the lead particles into the air. You can rent a HEPA vacuum from stores that carry remodeling tools. Remember, when you finish vacuuming carefully empty the dust collected in the vacuum cleaner, being sure to dampen it with water first to control the spread of the collected dust. Wet-sanding equipment, wet/dry abrasive paper, and wetsanding sponges for wet-methods. These can be purchased at hardware stores. All-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead.A solution of water and an all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead should be used to clean up lead dust from work areas. Use one bucket for the cleaning solution and one bucket for rinsing. Change the rinse water frequently (at least once for each room being cleaned) and replace rags, sponges, and mops often. Six-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting.This thick, plastic sheeting is used to cover the area in which you are working. It can be purchased at hardware stores or lumber yards. The label should say that the plastic is made of polyethylene and is 6 mils thick. Duct tape.You will need duct tape to completely seal the plastic in place. Protective clothing.To keep lead dust from being tracked throughout your home, wear clothes such as coveralls, shoe covers, hats, goggles, face shields, and gloves. These items are available through laboratory safety equipment supply catalogs and vendors. Inexpensive disposable suits can sometimes be purchased at paint stores.
How to Work Safely Whether you are renovating, remodeling, or performing interim controls, you must follow these safeguards to prevent lead dust from spreading throughout your home: Construct an airlock at the entry to the work area.The airlock consists of two sheets of the thick plastic. One sheet is completely taped along all four edges. The tape must extend all the way around the top, two sides, and the floor. This plastic sheet is then cut down the middle. The second sheet is only taped along the top and acts as a flap covering the slit in the first sheet of plastic. If two entryways exist, one should be completely sealed in plastic. As an alternative, the doorway can be taped closed on all sides. Remove all furniture,area rugs, curtains, food, clothing, and other household items until cleanup is complete. Items that cannot be removed from the work area should be tightly wrapped with the plastic sheeting and sealed with duct tape until all work and cleanup is complete. Turn off forced-air heating and airconditioning systemswhen remodeling, renovating, or performing interim controls. Then cover the heating and air conditioning vents with the plastic sheeting. Tape the sheeting in place with duct tape. Windows should be kept closed unless volatile chemicals will be used. Keep all children, pregnant women, and pets away from the work area. Cover openings, such as gaps around pipes and between floorboards, with plastic or duct tape to prevent lead dust from sifting down to lower floors and rising to upper floors. Cover exposed surfaces that you cannot removewith the plastic sheeting. Examples include floors, carpeting, counter tops, and shelves. Tape around the door seals of refrigeratorsto prevent dust from getting into the food inside. Spray water on lead-painted surfaces to keep dust from spreading.
Information on this page was excerpted from publications of the U.S. EPA and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).Their websites are listed on the “Further Lead Resources” page.
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