Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: What You Should Know

 

The lead-based paint disclosure provides consumers and homeowners with the necessary protection when moving into or renting properties that may contain lead paint.

Since the nineteenth century, lead paint has been widely utilized in Europe and the United States. Due to its inherent durability and long-lasting finish, it has become a favorite exterior coating component for many homes.

People became aware of the mounting health risks associated with lead paints in the early 2000s. Due to medical advancements, experts identified how exposure to lead paint can cause cognitive impairment, stunting, and even organ failure.

However, removing lead paint from your walls is insufficient to protect your family from its health concerns. Even if lead-based paint is not ingested, it can still be dangerous, especially when its vapor and dust are inhaled.

Ways to Identify Lead Paint 

In reality, you can find lead paint on the walls and other surfaces of any building constructed before 1978. Lead paint can also be detected by multiple coats of paint on a surface.

Identifying, testing, and removing lead paint on your own has negative repercussions on the health of everyone living in your home. Therefore, it is always advisable to engage the services of the experts. However, it is best to employ an EPA-certified professional to determine whether your home or a portion of it contains lead paint.

When Was Lead Paint Prohibited 

The disclosure of lead-based paint began one hundred years after Benjamin Franklin’s 1700 cautionary tale to a friend about the risks of lead paint. In most European nations, women and children are prohibited from working in occupations that involve the use or production of lead-based paints.

The United States followed suit in 1977 when it entirely outlawed the use of lead paint in public and commercial facilities and products. This ban included lead coating that was used in toys and furniture.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development came up with yet another regulation in the year 1996 to end the production of goods containing lead paint and prevent customers from purchasing lead paint without proper certification.

Lead Paint Hazards 

Although lead paints were formerly helpful, now they pose significant risks to human health. Even small levels of lead can cause severe cases of lead poisoning.

According to Sarasota painters, even though lead-based paint disclosure is common in many regions of the world, your home may still be vulnerable to lead sources. For that reason, you must know where lead is most commonly obtained:

• Dust from an older structure
• Polluted water supply system
• Car repair shops
• Battery and light bulb manufacturing plants
• Lead vapor-containing aerosols
• Toys and pottery containing lead
• Lead-containing cosmetics

How to Recognize Lead Paint Poisoning 

Lead paint poisoning symptoms are difficult to spot at first because they usually show only after a person has been exposed to high levels of lead. However, in general, people suffering from the health impacts of lead poisoning, particularly children, have:

• Problems with memory and attention
• Weight loss due to loss of appetite
• Irritability and mood disorders
• Loss of hearing
• Reduced energy

While children are more prone to lead paint poisoning, lead exposure can have significant implications for adults. Symptoms of lead poisoning in adults include:

• Pain in the joints, muscles, and abdomen
• Sluggishness and weariness
• Male sperm production abnormality
• Pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth
• Hypertension
• Bipolar disorder and depression

Prevention of Lead Paint Poisoning 

Over time, lead poisoning can have lasting impacts on health. Therefore, heightened caution is necessary to safeguard you and your family from the dangers of lead contamination. Here are some easy ways to reduce the danger of lead contamination:

Maintain proper hygiene

Before eating, it is imperative to wash your hands to reduce lead contamination and limit hand-to-mouth transfer. Moreover, it is recommended that parents periodically clean their children’s toys, especially those used outdoors. Keep pollutants outside the house as much as possible by removing your shoes before entering.

Regularly clean your home

You can avoid lead exposure in the home by keeping it clean regularly with a wet mop and moist cloth, which also removes particles that could cause infectious diseases. In addition, inspection for lead-based paint is crucial for older homes. Also, any peeling and scraping that is noticed must be addressed right away.

Plumbing Inspections 

You should replace lead pipes and fittings immediately. If you cannot complete the replacement right away, it is best to let the water run for at least a minute before using it. Keep in mind that you should not utilize the water from lead pipes for cooking or consumption.

Key Takeaway 

When buying or selling a property, it’s critical to know if the house has lead-based paint. Since lead helps keep paint fresh and resistant to moisture, it was widely utilized to coat home interiors throughout the first part of the twentieth century. However, with all the studies conducted, it has been proven to pose harmful health risks and developmental issues to children. With the information discussed above, ensure that you’re guided in keeping your home and family safe.