Lead Based Paints
Lead Based Paints
In Colorado, approximately three-quarters of the homes built before 1978 have contained lead-based paint, which poses a threat to occupants who may breathe or ingest dust from lead-based paint as it wears and disintegrates over time. Lead can cause abnormal fetal growth during pregnancies, while both children and adults can experience irritability, poor muscle coordination, and damage to the nervous system and brain, as well lead to high blood pressure. Because lead is something you can’t see, taste, or smell, it often goes undetected and can become a common source of poisoning for children, which even low levels of can hamper mental and physical development and cause learning disorders involving behavior problems and reduced attention span.
In 1991, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) called lead poisoning the No. 1 environmental threat to the health of children, and subsequently the Lead Hazard Control program was formed in 1993. Efforts resulting from this program reduced childhood lead poisoning cases by 70%, but lead-based paint remains a problem in Colorado.
Unfortunately, it was later discovered that when asbestos fibers are disturbed and become airborne, they may be inhaled, allowing asbestos fibers to lodge themselves in lung tissue. This can cause extremely serious and often fatal diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (a lung disease marked by severe fibrosis), and mesothelioma (a type of cancer that occurs in the layer of tissue that covers internal organs).
In addition to inhalation of dust fibers, one can also be exposed to asbestos by drinking water that is contaminated due to flowing through asbestos cement water pipes.
In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos. However, many homes and buildings constructed during the asbestos era still have asbestos products throughout.
Since lead does not break down naturally it can remain dangerous until removed. Areas in your home mostly likely to contain lead-based paint include:
- Wall surfaces that are on the outside of your home (which are more likely to become hazardous because of their exposure to the elements, causing the paint to chip and flake off. Ingesting this material can be extremely dangerous.
- Windows and window sills
- Doors and doorframes
- Trim and baseboards
If you have an older home and think a potential hazard exists, test your home and family for lead. There are do-it-yourself test kits from home centers, paint stores, and ceramics supply outlets. These kits are a good first step, but they cannot distinguish between low and high levels of lead, and it may be difficult to get accurate readings on surfaces with multiple levels of paint.
In most cases, it’s best to have a professional lead-based paint expert like Breathe Easy Environmental test your home to determine if lead is present. If we detect lead, we can help you develop a plan to take permanent measures to remove it from your home, through component removal and replacement, paint removal, and covering painted surfaces.
What Does Lead Abatement and Mitigation Entail?
There are strict laws regulating the mitigation of lead, which we adhere to closely. Breathe Easy Environmental often uses the following methods for mitigating lead-based paint.
- Enclosure: Lead paint is covered with a wall covering, which is a common choice for large surfaces such as walls.
- Replacement: The surface containing the lead is completely removed (i.e., a wall, door, window, or molding) and replaced with a new one.
- Paint removal: Paint is completely removed using various techniques. (This method generates lead dust and requires use of a HEPA local vacuum exhaust tool for the work area.)
- Encapsulation: The affected area is covered and sealed with a specific coating. (This method can be less expensive but cannot be employed on all surfaces.)
Working with Breathe Easy Environmental
If you suspect that your Colorado home or property may have lead-based paint, it is very important to hire an expert that can properly abate and mitigate it. Most insurance companies have a lead poisoning exclusion, meaning the cost of removing the paint or any liability that may arise due to having lead paint in your home will not be covered. But Breathe Easy Environmental’s services are often lower than other local companies, and we will work with you to determine the best method for removing lead-based paint from your home. Contact us today to learn more.
