What You Need to Know About Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

What You Need to Know About Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

The lead-based paint disclosure offers the protection consumers and homeowners need when moving or renting places that may have used lead paint.

Unknown to many, lead paint has been widely used across Europe and America since the 19th century. It became a popular component of many homes’ exterior coating because of its innate durability and long-lasting finish. Likewise, artists were fascinated by the thickness, opacity, and density of lead paint that it became part of many known masterpieces all over the world.

It was early 2000 when people became aware of the growing health concerns surrounding lead paints. Thanks to advances in medical fields, experts were able to discover how exposure to lead paint can lead to cognitive disability, stunting, and even organ failure.

However, simply sweeping lead paint off your walls is not enough to keep your family safe from the health risks it poses. Even without ingestion, lead-based paint can still be harmful, especially when vapor and dust from scraped paint are inhaled. Fortunately, health institutions are slowly taking action to put a stop to the usage of this hazardous, long-outdated substance.

How to Identify Lead Paint

In actuality, any place built before 1978 would highly likely contain lead paint on its walls and other areas. Layers of paint on a wall are also a tell-tale sign that lead paint may have been used. The paint on a window sill chips and peels easily, so looking at the paint done on it can also help you identify the presence of lead paint.

However, it’s most ideal to hire an EPA-certified professional to identify whether a part of your place or your entire place has lead paint. Identifying, testing, and removing any lead paint yourself poses detrimental effects to your place and the health of everyone living in it. As such, it’s always best to call the experts.

When Was Lead Paint Banned

Lead-based paint disclosure began 100 years after the first interesting anecdote of Benjamin Franklin to his friend, warning him about the dangers of lead paint during 1700. The precautions against lead paint poisoning then started in the majority of European countries, where women and children are banned from participating in jobs involving the use and production of lead paints.

The United States followed suit in 1977, when the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission completely banned the use of lead paint in public and commercial properties and materials, including lead coating in toys and furniture.

In 1996, another regulation was established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to halt the manufacturing of products with lead paint and prevent buyers from accessing lead paint in the market without certification. This legislation pertains to the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Regulation.

Modern Initiatives

A study conducted by Sweden’s Pollutants Elimination Network found that 31% of bright-colored, solvent-based industrial paints contain high levels of lead. The amount of lead found exceeds the standard limit of lead content recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which is 90 parts per million (ppm).

In 2011, the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint was established to promote lead-based paint disclosure and completely eradicate the manufacturing, importation, exportation, and distribution of lead paints. The Lead Paint Alliance, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), seeks the support of national governments, asking them to regulate the production and distribution of lead-based paints.

Moreover, this modern alliance seeks to protect employees and even consumers from occupational exposure to lead. Through government intervention and enforcement, the negative effects of lead contamination on health and the environment can be prevented.

Dangers of Lead Paint

Although lead paints were functional in the past, they pose immense dangers to human health. Serious cases of lead poisoning can occur even with exposure to small amounts of lead. In 2019, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation recorded 0.90 million deaths in developing countries due to lead exposure and its long-term health effects.

While lead-based paint disclosure is prominent in many parts of the world, your household can still be vulnerable to sources of lead present in old commercial properties and factories. Most often, lead comes from:

  • dust from older buildings
  • contaminated water system
  • auto repair shops
  • battery and bulb production factories
  • aerosols containing lead vapor
  • lead-coated toys and potteries
  • cosmetic and herbal products containing lead

How to Identify Lead Paint Poisoning

Symptoms of lead paint poisoning are difficult to identify at first since they usually appear only when a person has been exposed to high levels of lead. But generally, patients, especially children, experiencing health effects of lead poisoning have:

  • difficulties with memory and concentration
  • loss of appetite leading to weight loss
  • mood disorders and irritability
  • hearing loss
  • low energy

While patients at a young age are more vulnerable to being poisoned by lead paint, exposure to lead also results in serious consequences among adults. Symptoms of lead poising in adults include:

  • joint, muscle, and abdominal pain
  • fatigue and sluggishness
  • abnormality in sperm production in men
  • miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women
  • hypertension
  • depressive and bipolar disorder

Prevention of Poisoning with Lead Paint

The health effects of lead poisoning can be irreversible over time. This is why a heightened sense of vigilance is needed to protect you and your family from the dangers of lead contamination. Here are some simple measures that can lower the risk of lead contamination:

1. Proper Hygiene

To prevent contact from lead contamination and minimize hand-to-mouth transfer, it is essential to wash your hands before eating. Parents are advised to regularly wash their children’s toys, especially when they are used outdoors. As much as possible, keep pollutants outside by removing shoes when entering the house.

2. Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning with a wet mop and damp cloth not only prevents lead contamination inside the home but also removes particles that may cause infectious diseases to your household. Older homes should be inspected for lead-based paint. Any detected peeling and scraping should be fixed right away.

3. Plumbing Check-ups

Lead pipes or fittings should be replaced immediately. If the replacement can’t be done right away, it is advisable to let the water run for at least a minute before using it. Water flowing from lead pipes should not be used for cooking or drinking.

Support Lead-Free Painting Services

Prevent lead exposure by trusting a safe and reliable painting contractor.

Jeff Schultz Painting provides painting services for residential and commercial properties. As we transform the interior and exterior of your property, we make sure that the products we use will not pose harm to your health and your family. We only use lead-free and non-toxic types of paints in all of the projects we handle. For more information about our safety standards, contact our commercial and residential painter in Sarasota.

Jeff Schultz

Jeff Schultz

Jeff Schultz is a skilled painting contractor with more than 35 years of experience. Since 1988, he's been offering top-notch painting services for homes and businesses in Sarasota, Bradenton, and along the Gulf Coast. Jeff knows how to choose the right paint for the area's weather, making sure the paint job lasts. His team can paint many different types of buildings, like high-rises, offices, churches, and more, without causing much disruption. Jeff's goal is to give the best painting service around, with great customer care, reliable work, and excellent results.

About Me

Jeff Schultz Painting is a full-service painting company that specializes in commercial and residential projects.
Jeff is a professional interior and exterior painting contractor with over 35 years of experience.

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