The Danger of Lead Paint

Avi Rubin was an 8-month-old child when his parents made the decision to paint their home. Built prior to 1978, the Rubins were well aware that their home possibly contained lead paint -- and they were prepared to find a contractor who was certified to safely handle that possibility.

In 2005, the contractor the Rubin’s hired used uncontained pressure washing, dry scraping and open flame torch burning to prepare the exterior of our home for painting. He assured them that these methods were safe. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The Rubins later learned that these practices were both hazardous and illegal on both a state and federal level.

Soon after the Rubin’s had the exterior of their home scrapped and re-painted, their son began showings signs of illness. They later learned this was from inhaling the fumes from the heated/vaporized lead paint. When they finally had their son tested, they were told that he had lead poisoning, and that they needed to move out of their home until the property could be decontaminated and be made safe for them to live in again.

Avi was not crawling yet. He did not have access to paint chips or floor dust. They also lived in a high-income neighborhood. They did not fit the outdated, preconceived demographic for lead poisoning.

As a result of the lead poisoning, Avi suffered permanent brain damage that has caused severe learning disabilities, behavioral problems, aggression, headaches and other physical and neurological symptoms.

Pediatricians don't routinely test children for this increasingly common and preventable disease. They tend to preselect children based on outmoded stereotypes that don't match today's at-risk population for lead poisoning -- a demographic which has been expanded to include children of middle and upper-income homeowners renovating "classic" homes. With the ubiquity and levels of microscopic lead dust present in and around today's older buildings, it is prudent that all children be tested.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that may cause a range of health problems, especially in young children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, like the kidneys, nerves and blood.

Lead may also cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and in extreme cases, death. Some symptoms of lead poisoning may include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, tiredness and irritability. Children who are lead poisoned may show no symptoms.

Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil and becomes tracked in. Children may become lead poisoned by:

• Putting their hands or other lead-contaminated objects into their mouths,
• Eating paint chips found in homes with peeling or flaking lead-based paint, or
• Playing in lead-contaminated soil

Lead is used in paint as a pigment because it helps fight against deterioration due to the environment, accelerates the drying process and increases durability. For this reason, the exteriors and interior of older houses have lead-based paint.

In 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development published a final rule, "Lead; Requirements for Disclosure of Known Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing." This final rule requires people selling or leasing most residential housing built before 1978 to provide purchasers and renters with a lead hazard information pamphlet.

Landlords and sellers in New York State are also required to sign a lead paint disclosure form. The form discloses whether the landlord/seller has any knowledge of lead paint in the home. The buyer is given 10 days to have an inspection for lead paint prior to signing a binding contract. The disclosure also becomes a part of the purchase contract.

Things To Know About Lead

• Lead can harm young children, babies even prior to birth.
• Children may seem healthy and have high levels of lead.
• Lead can enter the body through eating paint chips, or soil, breathing or swallowing lead dust.
• Improper removal of lead paint can be harmful.

It has been estimated that over half of all buildings in the United States constructed before 1978 contain lead paint. Although children are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning, lead also presents a threat to all residents and workers performing renovations.

Most buyers today conduct home inspections, which include looking at the structure of the home, as well as its components. But few buyers worry or even think about testing homes for lead paint -- one of the biggest dangers to people. Will you do the same?

For more information about lead, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424 LEAD or visit them on the web at www.epa.gov/ or www.hud.gov/offices/lead.