i build houses for a living. i have a customer that wants a house remodeled. some of the exterior of the house has lead paint (which will have to be removed). i have been reading on the net about the dangers of lead paint, but everything i see talks about long term exposure. not one site i looked at said anything about short term. so is there any danger with being exposed to lead paint for around a month or so?
2006-07-07 17:01:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
Acute lead exposure can cause stomach and intestinal upset. And mental symptoms including irritability, paranoia and speech problems. The "Mad Hatter" character in Alice in Wonderland has acute heavy metal poisoning due to the mercury used to tan leather for beaver skin hats. Paranoia, mixed up words, erratic behavior.
Wear a approved HEPA respirator. Don't dry sand (which releases lead-containing dust into the breathing air. Wet sand or heat & scrap. Contain the any dust and scrapings on tarps for disposal.
Check what amount you can do as a non-Lead-based Paint abatement contractor. It's in the order of 100 square feet. Fine Home Building addressed that point in an article about 9 +/- months ago.
Wash hands after work and before eating. Don't smoke on site (hand-to-mouth pathway). Drink a lot of milk (being calcium defienct increases lead and zinc uptake).
Educate yourself with the various government and building association phamplets available.
-David
2006-07-10 06:54:01 · answer #1 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The danger to lead paint exposure is greatest for small children. As long as you don't breath or ingest any of the paint particles, you will be just fine. It is somewhat like asbestos, as long as it is undisturbed the hazard is small but if you disturb it then the risks go way up. Walking by a door with lead paint on it is not a problem but sanding the paint is a big problem
If you are going to have to remove any pieces with lead paint, you should wear protective gear. I would err on the side of caution and assume any exposure is not good.
In some locations, lead paint is required to be removed by a certified or liscensed contractor. Better check you area.
2006-07-08 04:30:54 · answer #2 · answered by oil field trash 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
how bad is short term exposure to lead based paint?
i build houses for a living. i have a customer that wants a house remodeled. some of the exterior of the house has lead paint (which will have to be removed). i have been reading on the net about the dangers of lead paint, but everything i see talks about long term exposure. not one site i...
2015-08-20 16:15:00 · answer #3 · answered by Clem 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Esposure is exposure. Length of exposure to lead (since it is a metal) has nothing to do with severity of contamination. All you need for lead poisoning is an amount the size of your thumb nail to be ingested or breathed in. Realistically speaking, it doesn't take that long to be exposed to that little.
I am a painting contractor who belongs to the PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America). A few of us are being targeted by the EPA to make sure we properly notify our customers about the possible presence of lead. Fortunately, since we are most likely more industry educated than your standard station-wagon painter, we'll know how to comply with laws and regulations. There is a law out there regarding Pre-Renovation Education. Here is the the pamphlet that will educate YOU, the contractor.
2006-07-08 01:06:38 · answer #4 · answered by KenAFP 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I wouldn't sweat it at all for a single house. For quite a few years people lived in houses with indoor lead based paints as well. But if you are planning on sanding or sandblasting it off, it would be wise to wear an appropriate dusk mask This should be done no matter what kind of paint it was.
2006-07-07 17:07:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two issues:
Your personal exposure to lead
Your liability, if the customers or their kids get lead exposure
My advice would be to educate yourself and the homeowner about lead-safe work practices (search "lead" on the EPA.gov web site), then figure out how that would affect the price of the work.
I personally wouldn't want any unnecessary exposure to lead dust and I sure wouldn't want to expose a child's developing brain to the stuff. In the next 50 years we're going to need all the smart people we can get!
2006-07-07 17:53:54 · answer #6 · answered by Goldenrod 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As someone who use to be a furnaceman in the smelter Lead (Pb) furnaces here, even short term exposure to lead paint can have harmful effects on your health. Please wear an approved lead dust respirator and limit spreading this removed lead paint around. Clean up the surrounding area very well afetr removing the lead paint.
2006-07-07 17:22:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If short term exposure was even detectable, they'd have stopped using lead as soon as they discovered it. A face mask is a good idea, but it's not plutonium. You're probably doing more harm to yourself eating hydrogenated oils.
2006-07-07 17:05:55 · answer #8 · answered by Roadpizza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would wear a respirator when dealing with any toxin...don't take chances...I've heard there is danger in the small amount of lead dust residue on new mini blinds. Use precaution when dealing with anything toxic long term or short term.
2006-07-07 17:06:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothings wrong with being exposed to lead; as long as you dont lick the paint/eat the paint if it chips off, you'll be fine
the concern over lead mercury and other heavy metals is overexaggerated..
2006-07-07 17:05:25 · answer #10 · answered by spartanerik 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋