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LEAD BASED PAINT DUST A HAZARD TO ALL
Last week's column on the new Lead Based Paint Rule for renovations and
repairs sparked several calls and comments questioning the danger of
exposure to lead. One caller said he, as a child, had routinely used
"split shot" fishing pole sinkers made out of lead. He would insert the
fishing line into the gap in the sinker, then use his teeth to bite down
on the lead, causing it to grip the line. He reported no noticeable ill
effects.
Another correspondent reminded me that prior to the 1970's, lead was a
standard component in almost all auto gasoline, and he was sure we all
breathed fume with some lead content, again with no apparent ill
effects.
The reality is that several members of the original lead additive
research team died of lead poisoning, and oil companies termed the
lead-enhanced gas "Ethyl" rather than using the "L" word.
The most current national survey showed that more than 300,000 children
suffer from elevated lead levels in their bloodstream. A large body of
evidence shows that the most common source of lead exposure for children
today is lead paint in older housing and the contaminated dust and soil
it generates. Poisoning from lead paint has affected millions of
children since this problem was first recognized more than 100 years ago
and it persists today despite a 1978 ban on the use of lead in new
paint.
As I said last week, even a small amount of dust from renovations,
repairs, and painting can contaminate an entire home. If inhaled or
swallowed, this dust can cause irreversible damage to children and
adults. In children, lead can cause reduced intelligence, impaired brain
function, and impaired hearing, among other problems.
Because their unborn children are developing so rapidly, pregnant women
are also at risk if exposed to lead hazards. Exposure of this group to
lead can cause low birth weight, impaired organ development, and even
miscarriage.
Research has shown that by taking small steps to minimize and contain
the dust created during typical renovations, and by encouraging
renovators to clean up their dust as it is created, the degree of lead
hazard can be dramatically reduced. These steps are the basis of the new
EPA Lead Based Paint Rule covering renovations, repairs and painting in
pre-1978 housing.
That's why this rule was implemented, and I have become convinced that
it is the right thing to do, both for the safety of our children and the
safety of home renovation workers and their families. If you own, live
in, or work with pre-1978 housing, please take time to learn about this
new rule. The penalties for violations are severe, and benefits of lead
hazard reduction will be eventually felt by all Americans.
For more detailed information, visit epa.gov/lead.
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