Total shock: unsafe levels of lead in glaze in bathtub

[Anonymous]

This is so shocking to me! We just put a contract on a house built in 1964. I had an environmental inspector come in and check for lead. There is no lead paint in the house, but he said there are high levels of lead in the bathtub! I was in total shock. It is a cast iron tub and the inspector said the glaze contains high levels of lead. Apparently it is extremely difficult to remove a cast iron bathtub from my home as they can way up to 800 pounds. We love the house and the rest of the home inspection went well, but this is the only tub in the house and I have three small children. Has anyone experienced this before? When I googled it it said it's very common. Apparently before about 1970 it was common to put lead in the glaze in bathtubs. I'm reading story after story of children who had high levels of lead and the doctors couldn't figure out why until an inspector went in and realized it was the bathtub. I am wondering if anyone else out there has experience with this? Especially with old houses in DC and Alexandria in Arlington? What are the solutions for remediating the lead in the bathtub? Is my only choice to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to remove the bathtub? Or is there something else I can do?

[Anonymous]

You may be able to have it repainted as a temporary measure. Otherwise, you'll have to remove it. A new bathtub is a few hundred for a cheap one. So, the issue is removal, installation and tile work.

[Anonymous]

Is it just a standard tub or is it a fancy claw foot thing.
If it's just a normal tub maybe you can get a bath fitters style fiber glass tub dropped into it.

[Anonymous]

PP is correct. The inexpensive way to remedy this is to have it covered with a liner. Go with a custom one and do new tile work on the wall. It will look great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP is correct. The inexpensive way to remedy this is to have it covered with a liner. Go with a custom one and do new tile work on the wall. It will look great!

Any recommendations for good local companies?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

Presumably because it's in the glaze, which is prone to chipping, and she has small children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

omg, the children would be in the bathwater, and the lead would leech into the water from the glaze, and into their bodies through their skin.

I have never been one to get offensive on this site but had to just restrain myself from commenting on your intelligence.

[Anonymous]

OP, if it's you haven't closed on the house.

Why don't you ask for the seller to pay for at least half?
Or just pay for the removal, tile work, new tub, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

Presumably because it's in the glaze, which is prone to chipping, and she has small children.

lead crystal doesn't need to chip - the lead just leaches out into whatever you are drinking from the crystal glass. Years ago I had to change out my water decanters by my bed. Crystal wine glasses, etc. Its fine once in a while, but if you use crystal glassware on a regular basis you will ingest measurable lead.

[Anonymous]

Also, if you don't mind (since this is anonymous!) How did you find your environmental inspector, and what was the cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

omg, the children would be in the bathwater, and the lead would leech into the water from the glaze, and into their bodies through their skin.

I have never been one to get offensive on this site but had to just restrain myself from commenting on your intelligence.

Now you're going to make me do some research. I'm fairly certain it doesn't work that way (absorption via water on skin) but the risk with children in the tub is that they do ingest bath water or stick their wet hands in the mouth, thereby ingesting water that has leached lead from the tub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do you intend to drink water out of the tub? If not, why is this a problem?

omg, the children would be in the bathwater, and the lead would leech into the water from the glaze, and into their bodies through their skin.

I have never been one to get offensive on this site but had to just restrain myself from commenting on your intelligence.

Now you're going to make me do some research. I'm fairly certain it doesn't work that way (absorption via water on skin) but the risk with children in the tub is that they do ingest bath water or stick their wet hands in the mouth, thereby ingesting water that has leached lead from the tub.

first thing I found:

http://www.popsci.com/lead-water-what-are-health-effects-dangers

[Anonymous]

CDC on lead in water, geared toward lead in tap water (like in Flint MI) but it discusses bathing:

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm

[Anonymous]

OP: do not make any decisions right now. You are in a state of shock. Could you go stay with your parents? Leave the kids with some friends?

You need to take some time to get through this.