Effects
of Lead Poisoning & Lead Based Paint
Where is Lead Found?
Lead enters the body by breathing or swallowing dust containing
lead or ingesting soil or lead based paint.
Lead is found in many sources due to the
fact that it is not able to dissolve in water or biodegrade,
dissipate, decay, or burn. Ninety percent of the lead in the
atmosphere is the result of the burning of leaded gasoline,
but the EPA has banned lead in gasoline. Most lead found in
the environment is the result of human activity.
Communities in and surrounding heavy industry
and mining are exposed to a high level of lead. Lead can be
found in the air, the soil, and the groundwater in communities
that are located in heavy industrial areas. Lead industries,
smelting metal industries, batter manufacturing, and paint
manufacturing all give off lead. Mines can also give off lead
into the environment, allowing the lead to be ingested from
touching, swallowing, or breathing soil.
 The
Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead based paint
in 1978 and now household paint can only contain 0.06% of
lead or less. Any housing that contains paint prior to the
1978 ban risks containing lead based paint with high levels
of lead. If the paint is in a good condition it probably does
not carry a high risk for lead paint poisoning, but when paint
peels, chips, or cracks and is a lead based paint it becomes
a hazardous condition. In these circumstances a professional
can come in and remove the lead based paint. This should not
be attempted without a professional. Improperly removing lead
based paint can instead increase the hazardous conditions
by allowing the lead dust to spread further throughout the
house.
Chipped lead based paint exposes children
to a higher risk because they tend to put their hands, toys,
and other objects in their mouths, ingesting the chips of
lead based paint and risking permanent damage. Areas around
windows or door areas, fencing, and porches and balconies
wear more easily and should be taken care of if it contains
lead based paint. Improper renovations on homes with lead
based paint can increase exposure as well.
There are over 1 million workers in more
than 100 different occupations that are exposed to lead everyday.
Workers risk lead exposure at work and risk lead in their
homes when returning from work. The worker can bring lead
dust home on their clothing, hands, and hair and put the rest
of the family at risk for lead exposure. There are certain
occupations that expose workers to lead that include firearms
instructors, automotive repair mechanics, painting, metals
smelting and mining, brass and copper foundry workers, and
bridge, tunnel, and elevated highway construction workers.
| The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration states that if a worker’s blood lead
levels reach 50 ug/dL they must be removed from the workplace.
The EPA limits lead emissions within specific industries. |
A not as common source of lead, but still
remains a concern, is drinking water. The EPA requires entire
water systems to undergo a series of corrosion control treatments
when the lead content is greater than 15 parts per billion
in more than 10% of a sampling of public water taps. When
lead has gotten into the water source it is usually because
of corroded lead plumbing, the lead solder on copper plumbing,
or brass faucets. Lead content is usually at its highest in
water that has been sitting for an extended amount of time,
for instance when it has been sitting overnight.
There is FDA quality standards for lead in
bottled water. When lead is present at 5 ppb or greater it
is subject to regulatory action, which may include the water
being removed from the marketplace.
Ceramicware sometimes contains lead in the
glaze and risks entering foods or beverages. Lesser quality
ceramicware poses an extra risk because it sheds small amounts
of lead.
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