Negative Effects of Lead Poisoning

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Lead is one of the more common metals present on earth. For over thousands of years, lead has been used for a wide variety of uses from manufacturing to recycling, smelting, mining, ammunition, paints, toys, cosmetics, and perhaps most commonly for the creation of lead-acid batteries. 

However, lead was soon learned to be poisonous to humans. This was not known for many years as it was commonly used to create pipes to distribute drinking water and added to paint which was applied in many homes and buildings. 

The Dangers of Lead Poison

The toxic effects of lead exposure are considerable, but they mostly affect young children. Lead poison can lead to permanent impacts on mental development. If levels are high enough, lead poisoning may cause death. At lower levels of exposure, children may experience mental function and intelligence impacts and even suffer from behavioral changes. 

The long-term effects for adults include damage to the kidneys and high blood pressure. For women who are pregnant, exposure to lead may lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and even miscarriages or stillbirths. 

While the effect on adults is serious, it is young children who are most at risk. Even the tiniest amounts of lead poison may have a profound impact. 

Common Locations for Lead

The presence of lead can be in many places. While plenty of work has been accomplished in removing lead from everyday items and products such as gasoline, it can be commonly found in the items listed below:

  • Paint: Lead was banned from paint in the 1970s, yet it is still present in many homes and buildings mostly because it has been painted over with new, lead-free paint. However, when the top layers of the paint are removed, it exposes the lead-based paint which may contaminate the air itself. 
  • Pipes: Water contamination may be the single largest source of lead poisoning left in the modern world. This may be due to a combination of lead pipes that have yet to be replaced to contaminated water sources where lead has been dumped or otherwise is present.  
  • Lead may also be present naturally, which makes it difficult to locate. And because even a small amount of lead exposure may develop into serious medical issues, finding such sources is paramount for the health of those living or working inside a contaminated home or building. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you suspect the presence of lead in your home, office, or facility, call the experts at Brickley Environmental. We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to identify and remove lead from all types of buildings and structures. In addition, we offer the following services.

  • Abatement of Asbestos
  • Removal of Mold
  • Demolition
  • Removal of Hazardous Waste 

Lead poisoning is dangerous to come in contact with. If you believe that lead may be present in the paint or in the pipes, call Brickley Environmental. We will listen to your needs, explain our services, and help bring you peace of mind with our commitment to you. 

For more information on lead poisoning, click here to visit the CDC website.

Should You Test for Lead Paint Before Buying an Old House?

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Many older homes have a charm and beauty that is no longer present in modern construction. Unfortunately, many houses that were constructed before 1978 may also have traces of lead-based paint.

For many decades, lead was put into common house paint to provide strength and durability. The harmful effects that lead has on the mental and physical health of both children and adults were not fully understood until it was finally banned in 1978. 

This means that while homes built after 1978 are most likely free of any lead-based paint, it is possible that homes built before that year still have lead-based paint inside. 

Why Lead-Based Paint is Dangerous?

Although the ingestion of lead is quite harmful to adults, it has a devastating effect on children. Particularly those who are 6 years old or younger as it inhibits their mental and physical development. 

Signs of lead poisoning include milder symptoms such as sluggishness, fatigue, abdominal pain, and constipation. While more serious symptoms include delays in development, learning difficulties, seizures, and unexplained weight loss combined with a loss of appetite. 

While the devastating effects of lead were partially understood many decades ago, it was not until 1960 that New York banned its use for residential properties. It still took another 18 years before it was banned across the US. 

Should You Test for Lead-Based Paint Before Buying an Older Home?

The answer is yes! You should always test for lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. Keep in mind that even if you have signed a contract, the seller is responsible for scheduling and paying for an inspection of the home.

While the use of lead paint has long since ended, it is still possible that testing performed several years ago may not have fully discovered all the lead-based paint that is present. This is because older paints may still be underneath newer layers of paint. Even while lead-based paint is under newer paint, it still presents a potential danger. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you are considering buying a home that was built before 1978, you should call the professionals at Brickley Environmental. Our experts have the knowledge, experience, and tools to detect lead in houses even if it is under previous layers. Over the years, Brickley Environmental has worked with businesses and homeowners to detect and remove contaminants from properties. 

Call Brickley Environmental today and find out more about how we can detect and remove it from your residence, business, or structure. Our friendly, professional staff will explain our services, answer your questions, and provide a thorough inspection of your home to ensure that if any lead is present, it will be detected and removed safely and efficiently. 

For more information on testing lead-based paint, click here to visit the EPA website.

 

Lead Poisoning

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Lead is a toxic metal that has been in widespread use for thousands of years. The extent to which lead has been used has resulted in considerable environmental contamination and poisoning.

Lead is a soft, durable metal that is highly versatile. Today, it is most commonly found in lead-acid batteries used to run the electrical systems of vehicles. But you can also find lead in a wide variety of products such as the following. 

  • Leaded Paint & Aviation Fuel
  • Ammunition, Jewelry, and Crystal Glassware
  • Ceramic Glazes, Toys, Cosmetics, & Traditional Medicines 

Unfortunately, two of the most common sources of lead contamination are older paint and pipes in the home. Drinking water may contain lead that has slowly seeped into the water supply. The damage lead contamination can cause is considerable. 

The Effects of Lead

The toxic effects of lead are pronounced in adults, but even far worse in children. Lead poisoning negatively affects the growth and development of the brain and nervous system. In adults, exposure to lead increases the risk of high blood pressure and damage to the kidneys. The unborn are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning when pregnant women are exposed.

Once lead enters the body, it can seep into the brain, bones, kidneys, liver, and all other areas of the body. Because it does not exit the body, the lead can build up over time to become a dangerous threat to your health. A woman with lead in her bones presents a danger to her unborn child because it may seep into the fetus. 

Common Areas That Cause Lead Poisoning

Lead exposure can happen in two basic ways; inhalation or ingestion. Lead particles can be inhaled when materials that contain lead are burned. This includes recycling, smelting, stripping away old lead paint, and being in close proximity to aviation fuel. 

Ingestion of lead normally occurs when water or dust from old water pipes is consumed. Another method is from food that has been stored in lead containers. Another possible form of ingestion occurs when a high amount of traditional medicines or cosmetics containing lead have been used. 

There is no amount of acceptable lead exposure. This is because lead stays within the body and can build up over years even if the exposure itself seems only slight. With the cumulative effects of lead exposure being so harmful, it pays to have any lead in your structure identified and removed as quickly as possible. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you suspect your home, office, or facility has lead call the professionals at Brickley Environmental today. They have the knowledge, experience, and training to identify and remove lead contamination from your structure in a safe, effective manner.  

Lead was commonly used in the construction and painting of homes and buildings until the mid-1970s. If you are living or working in an older residence or commercial building, it’s possible that lead may exist. By calling Brickley Environmental today, you can schedule an inspection and find out if there is lead present. 

For more information on lead, click here to visit the CDC website.

paint over the danger of lead

Protect Your Family From Exposure to Lead

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paint over the danger of lead

Lead contamination has been in the news recently, most notably in cities where the water supply have been tainted by the presence of lead. However, one of the most common sources of lead contamination originates from lead paint that was used in homes prior to 1978. The dust from that lead paint is one of the most common sources of lead poisoning which affects families around the world.

Any lead paint that was used in homes prior to 1978 may be under several layers of newer, non-lead paints. As long as the newer paint is still intact, then the lead is most likely under control. However, it is when the newer paint ages and deteriorates that lead contamination becomes a problem. This is particularly true around windows, door frames, and stairs as children may lick or chew on these areas.

Other sources of lead include pipes and plumbing materials which were commonly made from lead until 1986. In addition, lead dust that is tracked into the home from the outside, usually from exterior lead paints, industrial pollution, and even old gasoline that contained lead.

How to Protect from Lead Exposure

To keep you and your family safe from lead exposure, you should take the following steps:

Remove Your Shoes & Wash Your Hands. You can minimize the tracking of lead dust from outside your home by removing your shoes as you enter the home. This means that whatever lead dust is on your shoes stays near the door and is not tracked inside. Plus, washing your hands will remove any particles that might be present. It’s also good hygiene that can lower the risk of catching a cold, flu, or virus.

Plant Bushes Around the Home.  This keeps kids from playing next to the home where old lead paint may be present. This minimizes the possibility of lead dust coming into contact with children when playing outdoors.

Maintain the Condition of Your Property. If you add new layers of paint when needed, inspect the water supply coming into your home, and keep aware of any news reports of possible lead contamination, you can minimize the danger.

Have Your Home and Property Inspected. If your home was built before 1978 and you do not know what paints were used at that time, then you should have it inspected for the presence of lead. This means contacting a professional company that has a stellar reputation and experience in identifying and removing lead from the home.

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you suspect that your home may be contaminated with lead, contact the professionals at Brickley Environmental. We have the knowledge and experience to identify and remove lead contamination that may be present. Over the years, we have worked with home and business owners just like you to ensure that their properties are safe from lead contamination.

Call our offices today and we will listen to your concerns, explain our services, and inspect your property at your convenience. At Brickley Environmental, we understand the dangers of lead contamination and what it can do to the health of those living or working on the property.

Open Windows Can Let in Fresh Air … And Surprisingly Lead too!

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The recent events in Flint, Michigan have led many families to become concerned about the drinking water in their homes. However, they may be overlooking another source of lead that is coming in through their open windows. 

 Lead may still be present in the paint and wood of homes in the US that were constructed before 1978. Every time a window is opened, the fine lead dust is disturbed.  Children are especially vulnerable. They are closer to the ground and more likely to inhale or consume the dust that forms along the windows.

How to Address Lead in the Home

The first step is whether the home was built before 1978. This is a time when lead was legally used in paint. Lead gave paint considerable durability and it was cheap, so it was commonly used up until that year. if your home was built before that time, then consider having a professional service inspect and test the home for the presence of lead paint, even if it has been covered over for many years.

There are a few other materials in the home that may also be made with lead. This includes certain toys, jewelry, and imported candies. Continued exposure can build up the presence of lead over time. Here are some basic things you can do which may help reduce the lead exposure in your home.

– Replace the windows.
– Check the Water for Lead: Especially Hot Water.
– Clean More Frequently: To Reduce the Amount of Dust.
– Look for Peeling Paint: Underneath may be a source for lead.

There is no known treatment for the effects of lead-poisoning. Too much exposure may lead to lifelong health, cognitive, and behavior issues that can never be properly treated. This is especially true for children who are even more susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning. This means that cleaning and replacing windows may either not be enough or you may be looking in the wrong direction.

It is best to call a professional company that has experience with its identification and removal if you believe lead may be present.

Why Call Brickley Environmental?

Call the professionals at Brickley Environmental if you believe that lead may be coming into your home in the air or through the water pipes. They offer their extensive knowledge, years of experience, and complete training to identify sources of lead and remove it from the home, office, or facility.