Pre-1978 Lead Paint Is Still Causing Problems

By Karina Frost


Even though there had been warnings about the possible dangers of lead paint as early as the 1900s, both federal and state officials still routinely recommended its use. When a 1949 study pointed out the health hazards it posed to young children, there was a strong backlash, and a real ban did not occur for nearly 30 years afterward. Pre-1978 lead paint remains in many buildings, and still has the potential to cause harm.

While many oil-based paints incorporated this substance in the past, they are not the only source. Some consumer products such as batteries and certain cosmetics, solder, and even the by-products of many industrial processes all contributed to the prevalence of environmental lead. The toxic pigments were highly favored by professional painters due to superior durability, less peeling and flaking when exposed to weather, and water resistance.

Many artists still prefer it for their work, and the ship-building industry still applies it to metal hulls to prevent corrosion. It has always produced colors that are exceptionally pure and vivid, and after years of research water-based pigments are catching up. Many countries still produce enamels containing this element, and there have been widely publicized cases involving imports containing the substance.

Residual levels still exist in almost three-quarters of homes or apartments constructed before the seventies. The risks may be low for adults, who are capable of avoiding ingestion of old paint-based poisons. The most vulnerable age-group is young children. Toxic buildup can occur rapidly in small bodies, and the effects of long-term exposure to even very small amounts can be debilitating.

After it is breathed or swallowed, the element migrates to calcium-rich bones, where it builds up. In young people, a very small measure of toxin can result in serious problems. Common symptoms may include abdominal and muscle pain accompanied by nausea, chronic constipation, unusual fatigue, and loss of appetite. A child absorbs nearly half of the lead ingested, but adults typically retain only about ten percent.

The most insidious effects may be hard to pinpoint in the beginning. A child is still developing mentally and physically, and this type of poisoning can contribute to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted growth, or kidney problems. Because these symptoms are shared by other serious ailments, by the time the source of trouble has been identified and removed the damage has already been done.

Even though less vulnerable, an exposed adult can suffer kidney problems or severe hypertension. The bodies of pregnant women allow the substance to pass through the placental barrier, and premature birth or poor fetal development may result. It affects breast milk, and long-term exposure can cause fertility problems that prove difficult to surmount. The most realistic way to limit access is by removing the source.

People in San Diego, CA who feel their residence may be at risk can arrange for a licensed inspection. If a landlord does not respond to this request in a timely fashion, home testing kits can be purchased at hardware stores. A complete check includes interiors, common areas and nearby exteriors. The well-documented negative results of long-term exposure are too serious to be ignored.




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