Mitigating The Dangers Of Lead Paint Removal

By Author: Bryson Kaleb
Total Articles: 183
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Lead paint has been a danger in homes for a long time, and it’s only been in the last few decades that the paints most commonly used for home decoration and renovation are free of the element. This, however, means that lead paint can be an ever present danger in millions of homes across the country, especially in any that were built before the 1980s. Lead paint removal is an important aspect to the renovation process in older homes, but it must be done properly, otherwise it can cause serious health risks to those removing it, or to anybody living in the home during renovations.

Health Risks of Lead

There are numerous health risks when it comes to lead, and several ways that lead can get into the human body in a home that is painted with lead paint. Both adults and children can often get lead into their body through little particles of lead dust in the air, most commonly during activities that kick the dust into the air, such as renovations, repairs, or painting over lead paint. If lead paint on walls is damaged, lead dust can get into the air, and if not properly dealt with through ventilation and filtering, ...
... these dust particles can end up settling on food, food preparation surfaces or other high contact surfaces that allow them end up in a person’s body. There is also the risk of larger flakes or chips of lead paint becoming free from the wall and being eaten by a child. Safe lead paint removal in any building is paramount to minimizing the dust and other lead particles that are being exposed to people.

Lead is very dangerous to the human body, and any amount of exposure is generally too much, which is why safe lead paint removal is important. Lead in the body can easily damage the developing brain and nervous systems of children, resulting in slower development and permanent reduction in mental faculties. Adults’ nervous systems can also be damaged by lead, although at a slower rate than children. Human organs can also be damaged by lead, causing any number of ailments, and even death. Women with high lead levels in their bodies that are of childbearing age need to know that, if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, a fetus has a very high risk of exposure through the placenta during development. If you think you have been exposed to lead paint, then you should go to your doctor and have your blood tested for lead levels.

Safe Lead Removal Practices

Using a lead removal or abatement company is the safest method for removal of lead paint from your home or building. They have the training and the equipment to execute the process properly. Safe removal of lead paint requires special personal protective equipment to properly filter dust for workers, as well as negative-pressure equipment to ensure that any lead particles do not escape the room being worked on. After the lead paint removal, it must also be disposed of properly, as lead can seep into soil and cause environmental damage for plants, animals, and humans. Use of a reputable, trained and certified lead removal company comes with the guarantee that the removal of the lead paint is as safe as possible, including decontamination of the site afterwards, and the disposal of the lead in a legal manner.

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