Lead paint and the dangers it may bring to people, has long been spoken about for quite some time now. In 1991 lead paint was stamped for being quite possibly the most harmful threat in the United States in children’s health. There are a number of methods that you could become subjected to lead, including by the air that you breathe. Until people realized just how harmful lead paint was, you could find it in water pipes, gasoline as well as paint. Among the largest sources of lead exposure in this country is definitely old lead-based paint, and a majority of homes that were constructed before 1960 have paint with a heavy content of lead on the walls, window frames and on the outside. If you’re looking to rent or purchase a house or apartment in the Bay Area, you will need to do some research on lead paint in the area.
Being exposed to lead can affect the majority of the systems in the body. An extremely high dose of lead can lead to a coma, convulsions and even death in the most severe circumstances. A lesser dose of lead can affect the central nervous system, brain, kidneys and blood cells. If you have children, you’ll need to be especially careful about lead paint in Bay Area homes and also other buildings since the effects is usually particularly hazardous to children. Children may suffer slower physical and mental development, decreased IQ levels, a variety of behavioral issues and reduced attention spans. The reason why lead paint poses this type of threat to young children and fetuses is the fact that lead is absorbed far more easily into bodies who are still developing, and children’s tissues are much more sensitive to the effects of lead. Kids are more prone to put their fingers that may have come in contact with the lead into their mouths, or other objects that contain lead.
For those who are in the process of remodeling parts of their houses, you might want to separate the areas even if you’re confident that lead based paint wasn’t used. You can separate living quarters from rooms that are to be remodeled with barriers and an exhaust ventilation system. If a professional is going to be responsible for the remodeling efforts, you should make sure that they’re aware of the most efficient strategies for containing lead-based paint, dust and other contaminants
Go out of your way to make certain that you effectively clean floors and wipe or wash window ledges and surfaces that young children might have a tendency to gnaw on. It’s a smart idea to use either an all-purpose cleaner or one that is designed for use particularly with surfaces that can contain lead. You should ensure your children are washing their hands before meals or taking a nap or when going to sleep for the night, all of their stuffed animals should be washed along with all their other toys. You’ll also want to refrain from burning or sanding off any wood that’s been painted since there’s a possibility that the paint could contain lead.
Lead paint in Bay Area houses isn’t a threat if it’s in quite good shape. An example of when you ought to be more nervous and concerned is when the paint can get rubbed off, like a window being opened and closed. For those who end up with a lead paint issue and are wanting it taken out, call a public agency that will come and test the paint and after that employ a specially trained person to safely and appropriately come removed and dispose of the lead paint. It’s also been found in drinking water, so just to be on the safe side, you will want to have your water tested by the local health department.
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