Superman can’t see through it. The Roman Empire may have collapsed because of it. It is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. And if your home was built before 1978, chances are good you are surrounded by it.
We’re talking about lead, of course, the 82nd element in the periodic table and throughout most of this country’s history a key ingredient in the paints used on home interiors, exteriors, window trim, and elsewhere. Unfortunately, lead is toxic to the human body, which is why having it spread throughout your home is generally considered a bad idea.
Peeling paint chips, scratched paint surfaces, and paint dust all can and have been ingested by children. Over time the lead, which settles into body tissues, can lead to a variety of illnesses including, but not limited, to:
- Learning Disabilities
- Lost of Appetite, Nausea, Vomiting
- Stomach Ache, Constipation, Diarrhea
- Muscle Weakness
- Irritability, Mood Swings, Sleep Disorders
- Memory Loss
- Poor Coordination
- Renal Failure
- Seizures, Paralysis, Coma
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are more than 38 million homes containing lead-based paints. But again, virtually all of those were built before 1978.
The good news: As more and more homeowners become aware of these dangers, they are having the lead-based materials removed and replaced by modern latex water-based paints. The bad news: Removal and replacement of these materials can, ironically, exacerbate the very problem a homeowner is trying to avoid.
For that reason the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year established a new law requiring home contractors to be trained and certified in the safe and effective removal of lead-based materials. Contractors must practice safe work-site practices; ensure that any lead dust, chips, and other byproducts of the remediation effort be quarantined from the rest of the home; properly clean up after all work has been completed; and keep accurate records.
So before you hire a contractor for any work (remember, any home remodeling can spread paint-based dust), ensure that they are registered as an EPA-certified contractor. At Core Home Improvement, our crews have been fully trained in lead-based paint renovation, repair and painting (RRP) and we encourage you to read the EPA’s Renovate Right Brochure (we can bring you a print copy as well).
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