k3ackley

Now WJ, you don’t have to be “old schoolâ€

Originally posted by SonOfSwamp[/i] Originally posted by k3ackley Son of Swamp: The reality of lead poisoning incidents is that most of them are caused by kids crawling on a floor with invisible amounts of lead paint dust and then sucking their thumbs. Most parents, contractors, and realtors aren't aware just how sensitive kids are and that millionths of grams of the stuff can be that hazardous. Astounding. "Most incidents" are cause by thumbsuckers? Got any reputable sources for that? Sure do. Here’s a few for starters. "Trace Substances in Environmental Health II" Adapted from Exterior Surface Dust Lead, Interior House Dust Lead,and Child hood Lead Exposure in an Urban Environment" Bornschein et al. Referenced in the EPA Risk Assessor Initial book, and the Inspector book just prior to the dust sampling. The study from the DPE dated May of 1997 and the document is EPA 747-R-96-007 "Lead Exposure Associated with Renovation and Remodeling Activities: Environmental Field Sampling Study, Volume 1: Technical Report If you need more, let me know because there is about 30 years worth of research just like this. Of course when you take a careful look at these articles they do start to sound like “bureaucrat-written gobbledegookâ€

Mike: Your math is sound, but the lead content of paint actually varied over time. Lead based paint (LBP) was made illegal for residential use as of January 1, 1978. In anticipation of that change, the paint manufacturers started phasing lead out of paint as early as the 1940’s. With the introduction of latex paint in the late 50s, most LBPs of that time were less concentrated and typically intended for exterior use. A recent national survey of older homes found that only 13% of homes constructed in the 1960-1978 time period actually contained detectable LBP (using XRF measures). That means that most homes built during that time are not likely to contain it (though you never know for sure until it’s been tested). So, you are absolutely right. It has been 31 years since LBP was outlawed for home use. I stand corrected! Kent

Well, it is sort of a joke, but it's a joke meant to be taken seriously, and remembered. The mention of eating dogshit will, I think, stick in a person's mind better than some bureaucrat-written gobbledegook. Frankly, I couldn't think of a better way to inform a poorly-focused daddy that the best way to keep lead out of his kids' bloodstreams is to be vigilant when his kids and lead share some space. Jeez, if a daddy can't keep his kids from eating paint, there's not much I or anybody else could do for him. Knowledgeable old-house mavens have known about the lead threat since the late 70s - early 80s -- or sooner. And while it might be good to know when and why paint was invented, and when and why lead became part of paint, etc., I think no naive homeowner would benefit much from knowing the history of paint. What he needs to know is that he needs to keep his kids' hands off paint chips and dust, and out of their mouths. Reducing lead risk in my own special way, since 1984, WJ PS: Bill, your link to the National Safety Council is dead. Son of Swamp: Your "dog shit" story is a funny one, but could put people in harms way. If a typical lead poisoning incident were as simple as looking for something obvious, then we would not be talking about it 40 years after lead paint was taken off the residential market. The reality of lead poisoning incidents is that most of them are caused by kids crawling on a floor with invisible amounts of lead paint dust and then sucking their thumbs. Most parents, contractors, and realtors aren't aware just how sensitive kids are and that millionths of grams of the stuff can be that hazardous. If you've had children in the last 10 years, then you probably know that parents get hammered with information at the obstetricians and pediatricians office about keeping their kids away from the obvious hazards -- peeling paint. In the lead inspection world, we find that irresponsible parenting doesn't usually cause lead poisoning, old buildings do. The trouble is that folks don't know what to look for, because in most instances the hazards are not visible -- even if they know the history of lead paint told by us old-house mavens. Do us all a favor and find another way to explain the hazards of lead paint, because that story might actually get somebody hurt. Kent Ackley 5 year lead inspector in RI (where 80% of the homes are old enough to contain lead paint)