Lead Paint Leads to...

There are over 3.5 million homes built before 1978 in Australia. Most of them have paint that contains high levels of lead – a highly toxic metal, which if not managed can endanger human health, especially young children and pregnant women.

If your house is built prior to 1978 it most likely contains lead paint, unless it was removed during previous renovations.

If you suspect that your house has lead hazards ask a professional painter trained in lead management to test the area. DIY lead test kits also are available from most paint or hardware stores.

Why Is Lead Dangerous?

Lead cannot be excreted. It stores in the body for up to 20-30 years in bone, from where it can be mobilized back into the blood. From a single exposure, lead is readily absorbed and quickly distributed to the following areas of the body: blood (1%), soft tissue (4%) and bones/teeth (95%).

Lead is especially dangerous for children under the age of 6. It can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span.

In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, problems with reproduction, poor muscle coordination and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body. Lead distorts the production of red blood cells in the body.  Anaemia can occur if lead accumulates in blood and in blood-forming tissues (bone marrow).

Where is lead paint found?

Lead paint can be present on any painted surface, but it is most often found on internal woodwork, house verandas and outside walls.

Similar to asbestos, lead paint is not usually a hazard if it is in good condition and left undisturbed. It is the dust from deteriorating or damaged lead-based paint that is very dangerous.

Prior to 1978 the oxide of lead was commonly used as a whitener and drying agent in paints in Australia. Today, it has been replaced by titanium dioxide. Lead is a designated hazardous substance by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its use is highly regulated.

What To Do If Your House Contains Lead?

There are some immediate actions you can take to reduce your family’s risk of lead poisoning:

• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Consult your doctor. A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead in children and adults.
• Clean up paint chips immediately.
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly.
• Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap or bed time.
• Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
• Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
• Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

Removing Lead From Your House

Use a professional painter trained in lead paint management to remove lead based pant.

Do not attempt to do it yourself. In recent decades, the majority of children admitted to hospitals with lead poisoning were as a result of unsafe home renovation and maintenance activities.

Never attempt to remove lead-based paint with a belt-sander, propane torch, high temperature heat gun, dry scraper or dry sandpaper. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and fumes. Lead dust can remain in your home and around it long after the work is done.

Sasha Nadezhkin from Ol‘Paiting has over 10 years of experience in lead paint removal.

Sources: www.lead.org.au , www.housing.nsw.gov.au , www.environment.gov.au , “Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home” by EPA,
MPL Laboratories “Fact Sheet”