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Symptoms of Lead Exposure To Watch For

Homes and commercial properties built today are thankfully constructed with high safety regulations, and lead paint and other lead-based construction materials are not allowed. However, that doesn’t mean that lead exposure isn’t a concern for our community anymore. 

Lead paint was a common choice up until the mid-1970s, which means that there is a high possibility that the buildings in your neighborhood are at risk of having lead paint on their walls and throughout the properties. Because of this, it is important to understand more about lead paint and the impact of lead exposure on you and your family. 

Let’s explore more about lead paint and lead dust below so you can stay informed and stay safe.

Symptoms of Leads Exposure To Watch For

Table of Contents

What Is Lead Paint? 

Prior to its ban in the 1970s, lead paint was used widely for a variety of different purposes. Lead was added to regular household paint to help accelerate the drying process as well to create a more vibrant and durable finish. It was a cheaper way to achieve attractive results, so it was accepted as a mainstream paint choice rather quickly. 

Unfortunately, it was discovered years later that lead paint is toxic and that having it in your home in any capacity can be dangerous for your family. If your home or property was built before 1978, you might have lead paint in your home that you don’t even know about. 

What is lead paint?

Lead paint is commonly found in these locations: 

  • Door jambs
  • Window sills
  • Walls 
  • Built-in shelving 
  • Vintage toys

Having lead paint in these locations doesn’t automatically create a health hazard, but it does become more dangerous as this paint starts to break down. Lead dust is created as the paint chips and peels away, and this dust is what creates respiratory issues for the people in your home. 

What Does Lead Paint Look Like? 

The good news is that lead paint can be identified in your home as long as you do a bit of investigating. Start with the locations above and look for these common signs that you might be dealing with a lead paint situation. 

Alligatoring of the Paint 

As lead paint ages, it will start to crack and break apart into a pattern that looks like reptile scales. This is also what leads to lead paint chips. As the paint starts to peel away, chips will break off and they can easily become ingested by curious kids. 

Chalky Texture 

Lead paint also has a chalky texture that feels smooth or waxy to the touch. When it starts to wear away, it will come off on your fingers and clothes and resemble chalk residue. 

Fading Gray Color

Lead paint will also start to lose its vibrancy faster and will take on a grayish hue as it ages.

Multiple Chipping Layers

Have you ever been to a house and seen a door frame that looks like it has undergone multiple layers of painting over the years? Even if the top few layers of paint are safe and lead-free, there could be layers underneath that have old lead paint in them. Use caution whenever you see multiple layers of paint in an old house. 

Why Is Lead Exposure Dangerous?

While lead does still have practical applications in today’s world, it is important to note that lead is considered a toxic metal in high doses. The longer you are exposed to lead, either in the form of paint or lead dust, the more dangerous it can be to your health.

As the levels build up in your body, it will start to affect organs like your heart, lungs and kidneys. It can even raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels, which can lead to potentially deadly emergencies like strokes. 

Lead Exposure in Children

Children are particularly sensitive to lead exposure. Children grow at a rapid rate, and any sort of lead exposure can be dangerous for their brain and overall development. Studies have shown that long-term exposure can lead to: 

  • Damage to the brain
  • Slowed or stunted growth and development
  • Learning difficulties 
  • Hearing/speech problems
Lead Exposure in Children

Top Symptoms of Lead Exposure 

If you know that you have lead paint in your home, it is important that you hire a professional lead remediation company immediately to take care of the problem safely. Unfortunately, lead paint can be hard to detect if it is not experiencing any wear and tear or is not peeling away. 

Watch your children and your family members carefully if you have concerns about possible lead exposure. Over time, they will start to experience one or more of the following symptoms: 

  • High blood pressure
  • Chronic headaches
  • Nausea or abdominal pain
  • Joint pain
  • Mood troubles
  • Fertility issues 
  • Memory problems 

These symptoms can cause serious stress on the body and can actually become deadly over time. This is why taking action right away is critical! Call a professional lead remediation team as soon as possible so they can test your home for lead and take appropriate action. 

What Is Lead Testing? 

If you suspect lead is in your home, the best way to know for sure is to have your home tested for lead particles. This involves having a trained professional come to your home to perform an XRF lead detection test. It is a simple and non-invasive way to determine if you have lead paint! 

After the test is performed, you can have results in as little as 24 hours. If lead is discovered, certain removal and containment strategies are used to ensure the lead paint is no longer a threat to your family.

What is Lead Testing

If you live in an older home or are simply concerned with some symptoms your family is exhibiting, it is important that you prioritize testing your home for the presence of lead. Your family’s health and safety depend on it. 

Don’t wait! Contact the team at Exit Mold at (516) 512-7877 to schedule your lead testing.

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