Hidden in Plain Sight: The Dangers of Lead-Based Paint in Your Home
It’s estimated that about 29 million homes contain lead-based paint. If your house was built more than 30 years ago, it could be one of them.
While it was once a commonly used ingredient, we now know that adding lead to paint (or anything, for that matter) can cause many negative health effects. When lead-based paint chips, cracks, or turns into dust, it can quickly cover our homes.
What are those health effects, and why is lead so dangerous? Keep reading to find out.
Why Was Lead Used in Paint?
Before the dangers of lead-based paint were revealed, it was a popular ingredient in paint for several reasons.
Adding lead to paint helped make the paint resistant to moisture, which in turn helped the paint dry faster. Lead paint was more durable than non-lead paint, too. Not to mention, lead created more vibrant, rich colors for people to choose from.
However, soon people (and especially children) started feeling the effects of lead poisoning. Starting in 1978, lead-based paint was no longer allowed to be used in homes or other buildings.
Are you in the Louisville, Kentucky, area and wondering if your home has lead in it? Guardian Inspections can help you find out through a lead-based paint inspection.
What Are the Dangers of Lead-Based Paint?
You might be thinking, Okay, but as long as I don’t eat the lead paint in my house, I’m fine, right?
While eating lead paint is definitely a no-no, this isn’t the only way it can get into a person’s bloodstream. In fact, the most common and harmful way is for lead paint to be breathed in, such as when it’s in dust form.
Lead paint can even be absorbed through the skin.
Serious Health Problems
When lead does get into your body, it can cause a myriad of different health problems. Some of these include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Kidney damage
- Nerve damage
- Behavioral problems
- Anemia
- Reproductive issues
While some of these symptoms only come about after years of lead exposure, others may show up much sooner.
Symptoms of Lead Exposure
There are also common symptoms that may show up if you’ve been exposed to lead-based paint. These symptoms could include:
- Headaches
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Memory loss
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
If you’re worried that you may be suffering from lead poisoning, contact your doctor to find out the next steps to take.
How Does Lead-Based Paint Affect Kids?
Lead poisoning can affect children more strongly than adults since their bodies are still developing. Not only that, but children are much more likely to put their mouths on things that could have lead in them, whether it’s toys, windowsills, or walls.
Common signs that your child might be feeling the effects of lead-based paint include:
- Delayed growth
- Learning difficulties
- Vomiting
- Behavioral problems
- Hearing issues
Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you think lead-based paint might be affecting their health.
Take Lead-Based Paint Seriously
The consequences of lead-based paint can be serious, no matter what age you are. If you’re concerned that the paint in your home might have lead in it, get it checked out with lead-based paint testing sooner rather than later.
Looking for more health and home improvement tips? Check out the rest of our blog.
