Lead Paint- paint over it or get it cleared out?

[Anonymous]

We had a lead inspection on our home where they used some sort of laser gun that could look at all the layers of paint. Revealed that only exterior, windows/doors ever had lead paint. It was more expensive back in the day, especially during wartime rationing, so many people only used it on the most exposed surfaces due to its superior durability.

Removing intact lead paint is not always the best idea. Please follow EPA guidelines if you decide to do so. Putting "paper on the floor" and some regular store-bought HEPA filter is not sufficient. The HEPA filter and vacuum need to meet certain specifications, otherwise you are just spraying the lead dust everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a lead inspection on our home where they used some sort of laser gun that could look at all the layers of paint. Revealed that only exterior, windows/doors ever had lead paint. It was more expensive back in the day, especially during wartime rationing, so many people only used it on the most exposed surfaces due to its superior durability.

Removing intact lead paint is not always the best idea. Please follow EPA guidelines if you decide to do so. Putting "paper on the floor" and some regular store-bought HEPA filter is not sufficient. The HEPA filter and vacuum need to meet certain specifications, otherwise you are just spraying the lead dust everywhere.

Its not that messy (and you use plastic everywhere) if you are tearing out the boards - its sanding that is an issue.

[Anonymous]

OP- I went through this-- here is my take:

If it's in your window sashes/frames- remove if you can. If not, leave the windows closed, wet wipe the sills once per week., and set furniture in front of the windows to limit access.

If it's in your exterior doors and you can't replace them all, replace one door that is the primary entry and exit from your house.

Wet mop your floors once per week to pick up dust that may have fallen on the floor. Make sure that your children wash their hands before eating, before bed, and after playing outside.

Keep your house shoeless- it will prevent lead from being tracked in from the outside.

If it's on your walls, paint over if the drywall/plaster is in good condition.

I would not place anything that does not pose an immediate hazard because you could cause a problem where none existed. Children will most likely pick up lead from windows and doors- that is what I would pay a "lead safe certified" contractor to replace.

Have your children's lead levels tested once or twice per year until they are six.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- I went through this-- here is my take:

If it's in your window sashes/frames- remove if you can. If not, leave the windows closed, wet wipe the sills once per week., and set furniture in front of the windows to limit access.

If it's in your exterior doors and you can't replace them all, replace one door that is the primary entry and exit from your house.

Wet mop your floors once per week to pick up dust that may have fallen on the floor. Make sure that your children wash their hands before eating, before bed, and after playing outside.

Keep your house shoeless- it will prevent lead from being tracked in from the outside.

If it's on your walls, paint over if the drywall/plaster is in good condition.

I would not place anything that does not pose an immediate hazard because you could cause a problem where none existed. Children will most likely pick up lead from windows and doors- that is what I would pay a "lead safe certified" contractor to replace.

Have your children's lead levels tested once or twice per year until they are six.

PP here- I will add that you cannot predict what a child will put in their mouth. A windowsill is about mouth high for a teething toddler- which is why I suggest putting furniture in front of windows. I read somewhere that young toddlers and babies, put their hand to or in their mouths many times in one minute.

[Anonymous]

Wow. We live in a 1927 house with lead paint on windows, doors, trim, etc. We just keep the paint fresh (e.g. paint over it if it starts to peel) and there's no problem. DS is 5 and tested with undetectable lead levels. And yes, he crawled around and put stuff in his mouth as a baby. And no, he never wanted to chew with window sills, and we wouldn't have let him if he did.

[Anonymous]

And we didn't go to any kid of crazy neat extremes either -- though we try not to live like slobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone actually ever seen a neurotypical kid chewing on a window sil? My children have never licked a wall or a door jamb. I'm surprised how normal some pp's make that sound.

The operation of the door or window creates dust, which then moves around the house and gets on everything including toys, food. If you do not have decades-old painted wooden windows and sashes, go with a realtor and tour some rowhouse fixer-uppers in DC neighborhoods and you will understand.

Also, most kids, including "neurotypical" ones, go through a phase during the crawling months when they experiment by putting things in their mouth that they find on the floor. I imagine your babies did that at some point. During this time, babies may find and eat paint chips that have fallen from windowsills or door frames.

The main reason why lead poisoning has a disproportionate impact on low income families and minorities is not that their kids are weird and like to lick windowsills. It is the lack of financial ability or understanding to remediate. For example, PP above that "replaced all trim before baby was born", that's very Type-A middle class behavior, and they could afford it. Not criticizing BTW, I'd do the same! Just saying that a lot of lower income families, especially in rental housing, might not be able to accomplish this or might be unaware of the risk.

We were broke when my son was born, totally understood the risk, but there was very little we could actually do about it other than do our best to seal everything up with new paint, religiously clean the windowsills with TSP solution, and test our child early and often. Thankfully, it seems to have worked. The fact that we were so stuck iwththe problem infuriates me still.

[Anonymous]

Wow. We live in a 1927 house with lead paint on windows, doors, trim, etc. We just keep the paint fresh (e.g. paint over it if it starts to peel) and there's no problem. DS is 5 and tested with undetectable lead levels. And yes, he crawled around and put stuff in his mouth as a baby. And no, he never wanted to chew with window sills, and we wouldn't have let him if he did.

Very similar situation with us, but kids 1.5 and 3.5. We keep the paint fresh (probably one of our top home maintenance items) and we don't use the windows in the "old" part of the house (but they are so old that they are practically non-functioning anyway). We test kids every 6 mos and so far levels undetectable as well. We live in an historic district with tons of little kids, so I can't imagine this is so unusual.

[Anonymous]

What kind of blood test do they do on kids to check for blood? Just a finger prick? Or a more extensive draw? I've been putting it off (I know, bad idea!) cause I hate holding them down. Alternatively, we coukd have our home inspected? If all clear, we wouldn't need to test? Home is from 1940s but extensive remodel done within the last decade. I think some trim is original though, so suspect it may be there.

Tell me tge blood test isn't as bad as I'm dreading!

[Anonymous]

You should still test, lead can come from sa variety of sources. Including your water, your day care provider's home, hobbies, and/or toys. DC requires 2 tests before age 2. It can be done with a finger prick, though a blood draw is more reliable.

[Anonymous]

In DC, the pediatricians do the lead tests automatically every so often. Not once every six months. I think one when they are little and another before they head off to school at 4/5. I think it was just finger prick.

Really, I temd to be paranoid, but this isn't something I am paranoid about. We were all probably raised in homes with lead paint. The houses where it's an issue are frankly the slummy ones with paint peeling off of everthing and no one cleaning up. Maybe if you decided to live at home during a major renovation where they didn't put up plastic to separate the area with the work, that could be an issue.

Otherwise, just keep the paint fresh and it's fine. I'd be more worried about them chewing on cheap toys from China with lead in them -- or chewing on plastics with other chemicals in them.