HomeLead Paint
by Daniel Conte
Driving through our state, one might think that the lead paint problemaffects only those people living in the inner city. Nothing could be furtherfrom the truth! While it is true that many of these buildings were constructedor maintained with materials which contain lead or lead-based paint, thisis not the only source of contamination. Take a look around - lead is allaround us.
Until a few years ago, one of the most prevalent sources of lead asidefrom being in paint was in gasoline. Since many homes and apartments areclose to where highways were built, the residual effects of auto emissionsadded to the lead dilemma. Lead is not just an urban issue. It affects someof the most expensive and exclusive homes in any area. In fact most homesbuilt before 1978 probably contain lead or lead-based paint for the simplereason that it was one of the most durable products available. It was usedin pipes, solder and paint. It can show up in glass, on wood surfaces, insoil and water. The very infrastructure of our cities and towns was developedwith lead pipes.
How harmful is lead based paint and how do we protect our children? Studieshave shown that a child that is lead poisoned can experience not only serioushealth problems but can also develop behavioral conditions which can improperlylabel a child as aggressive or lacking the appropriate social skills inorder to succeed in our society. In these cases, a child is defined by thestate as a person who is under the age of six. Part of the solution is regulation,most of it is common sense.
Have you ever watched a child looking out of a window? They barely reachthe window sill! What you probably don't realize, is that sticky hands andfingers can be a facilitator of poisoning. Lead dust in window wells canbe ingested into the body by a child simply licking their fingers. How dowe lower the risk? Good hygiene is a start, along with clean conditionsat home.
If you determine that your property is a candidate for testing, you shouldknow that most inspectors rely on an XRF Spectrum Analyzer. This equipmentmeasures the level of lead in a surface by means of an x-ray and does notdisturb the surface tested. It is the only non-invasive procedure for testing.There is a process called chip sampling which requires that an actual samplebe taken from a painted surface. A licensed and certified inspector whohas been trained on the use of this instrument can provide you with valuableinformation, whether you are deciding on a home purchase or simply wantpeace of mind.
If you find that your home has unacceptable levels of lead, don't despair.Depending on your circumstances, there may be a less costly solution. TheState of Connecticut recently passed new regulations which permit the encapsulationof lead surfaces. The State of Connecticut's Department of Public Healthand Addiction Services is the agency in charge of the implementation ofthe ever-changing regulations and can provide individuals with informationregarding what you can do to better protect your family.