Lead paint worries after renovation?
Hi,
We bought a house last year that was built in 1977. Our realtor gave us the disclosure for lead-based paint but said that it was really unlikely that there would be any lead based paint since it was so close to the ban in 1978, so we didn’t give it any more thought. After buying the house I found out I was pregnant so we wanted to get the kitchen renovated before the baby came.
I’m 33 weeks preganant, the kitchen has just been completed (we ripped out a soffit in the ceiling) and there’s still quite a bit of drywall dust over the house. We’ve now found out we’re relocating and the new realtor is saying that there is a likelyhood of having lead paint. Should I be concerned? And what can I do?
Thanks
Just to clarify - the renovations are already complete and I am worried that I have already been exposed to lead, since there is quite a lot of dust all over the house…
Question posted courtesy of: Joseph
You Ask, We Answer
May 6th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Just like asbestos,it is harmless unless you are in the area while it is being stirred up.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Vicki W ! Lead based paint was commonly used prior to the 1970s, so pregnant women should avoid removing old paint because of the risk of lead exposure. Exposure to lead paint increases the likelihood of lead poisoning and mental retardation. Scraping and sanding old paint should be completely avoided. This puts higher concentrations of solvents and chemicals into the air to be inhaled. The recommendation is to have someone else do this part of the remodeling and ideally, remove yourself from the location until the project is complete.
If you are just too excited and you must paint the nursery, make sure you follow these guidelines to decrease the likelihood of paint exposure:
* Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing that includes long pants, long-sleeved shirts and gloves
* Be certain that the room and house are well ventilated; open the windows and turn on fans
* Limit the time you spend on the project; take breaks and move into the fresh air frequently
* Keep your food and drinks away from the area so solvents and chemicals will not accidentally be consumed
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