State and federal officials commonly recommended using house paints containing lead for the first three-quarters of the twentieth century. United States studies first published in 1949 confirmed the health dangers this substance poses to children, but an outright ban was resisted until another 29 years had passed. Pre-1978 lead paint exists in many structures, and can still harm people exposed to the peeling and flaking residue.
Oil-based paints benefited from this additive, but were not alone. Some cosmetics, batteries, solder and other consumer products also used it, as well as gasoline produced during petrochemical industrial processes. Professional house painters preferred it because it inhibited peeling and cracking on exposed wood surfaces, increased long-term durability, and was reliably water-resistant.
Many artists still prefer leaded paints, and they are still applied to ships to suppress corrosion and other damage to metal hulls. The bright, durable colors have long been regarded as superior, even though water-based pigments today are nearly equal in brightness. Many countries still produce and sell enamels containing this substance, and there have been widely publicized instances of other toxic imports.
More than forty years after being banned, contaminated paint still remains in almost three-quarters of all homes built prior to the seventies. Because adults understand the inherent dangers, personal exposure can usually be controlled or minimized. The most vulnerable group is children. Their bodies are small and growing, allowing the toxin to quickly produce adverse effects. Even small amounts over long periods can be damaging.
After being swallowed or breathed, it is stored in calcium-rich bones, where levels slowly accumulate. Even barely measurable amounts in young people cause serious problems. Early symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle and abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting, or chronic constipation. Children absorb nearly fifty percent of the lead they ingest, while most adults physically retain around ten percent.
In the early stages of exposure it may be difficult to pinpoint the actual source of trouble. Because their bodies and minds are still developing, children exposed to this poison may experience increasing learning disabilities, unusual behavioral problems, kidney disease, and stunted physical growth. These symptoms are shared by other serious ailments, and by the time the real culprit has been discovered, damage may be severe.
Even though less vulnerable, an exposed adult can suffer kidney problems or severe hypertension. The bodies of pregnant women allow the substance to pass through the placental barrier, and premature birth or poor fetal development may result. It affects breast milk, and long-term exposure can cause fertility problems that prove difficult to surmount. The most realistic way to limit access is by removing the source.
People in San Diego, CA who feel their residence may be at risk can arrange for a licensed inspection. If a landlord does not respond to this request in a timely fashion, home testing kits can be purchased at hardware stores. A complete check includes interiors, common areas and nearby exteriors. The well-documented negative results of long-term exposure are too serious to be ignored.
Oil-based paints benefited from this additive, but were not alone. Some cosmetics, batteries, solder and other consumer products also used it, as well as gasoline produced during petrochemical industrial processes. Professional house painters preferred it because it inhibited peeling and cracking on exposed wood surfaces, increased long-term durability, and was reliably water-resistant.
Many artists still prefer leaded paints, and they are still applied to ships to suppress corrosion and other damage to metal hulls. The bright, durable colors have long been regarded as superior, even though water-based pigments today are nearly equal in brightness. Many countries still produce and sell enamels containing this substance, and there have been widely publicized instances of other toxic imports.
More than forty years after being banned, contaminated paint still remains in almost three-quarters of all homes built prior to the seventies. Because adults understand the inherent dangers, personal exposure can usually be controlled or minimized. The most vulnerable group is children. Their bodies are small and growing, allowing the toxin to quickly produce adverse effects. Even small amounts over long periods can be damaging.
After being swallowed or breathed, it is stored in calcium-rich bones, where levels slowly accumulate. Even barely measurable amounts in young people cause serious problems. Early symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle and abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting, or chronic constipation. Children absorb nearly fifty percent of the lead they ingest, while most adults physically retain around ten percent.
In the early stages of exposure it may be difficult to pinpoint the actual source of trouble. Because their bodies and minds are still developing, children exposed to this poison may experience increasing learning disabilities, unusual behavioral problems, kidney disease, and stunted physical growth. These symptoms are shared by other serious ailments, and by the time the real culprit has been discovered, damage may be severe.
Even though less vulnerable, an exposed adult can suffer kidney problems or severe hypertension. The bodies of pregnant women allow the substance to pass through the placental barrier, and premature birth or poor fetal development may result. It affects breast milk, and long-term exposure can cause fertility problems that prove difficult to surmount. The most realistic way to limit access is by removing the source.
People in San Diego, CA who feel their residence may be at risk can arrange for a licensed inspection. If a landlord does not respond to this request in a timely fashion, home testing kits can be purchased at hardware stores. A complete check includes interiors, common areas and nearby exteriors. The well-documented negative results of long-term exposure are too serious to be ignored.
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