Put Lead to Bed

In general, humans have a long history with lead. The Egyptians used it for soldering. The Romans used it to fashion pipes and for creating utensils and goblets. For quite some time, America and the rest of the mature world made use of lead based paint and it was as universal as latex paint is today.

Painters adjusted new paint by adding powdered white lead, presumably for a tougher finish. Additionally, we have used lead in print, gasoline, batteries, golf balls, canned food, and even children’s toys.

We loved lead for centuries despite its damaging health effects that were starting to be recorded. The Greek physician, Dioscorides, started documenting that lead exposure affected the mind and included symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort, anemia, lethargy, tremors, slowing of growth in children, and renal diseases.

Finally, in the 1960s, the Center for Disease Control started to look into the effects of lead poisoning and worked to reduce the amount of lead in blood. Despite this work, it is estimated that approximately 4 million tons of lead-based paint remains in older homes and another 5 millions tons remains in our soil.

How does this apply to you? Now, there are laws in place to limit lead exposure.

• You must first abide by the usual precautions when working around pre-1978 housing where most lead-based paint is found. These precautions include containment, no aggressive paint removed without special HEPA vacuum tools, and proper clean up and disposal of lead debris.

• If you have an investment property, you must supply your tenants with a copy of the EHA brochure “Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools”. You must also provide them with a lead hazards disclosure form.

• Also, beginning April of 2010, anyone working on a pre-1978 dwelling must be certified to do lead-safe work if there are underage kids or pregnant women working or living in the property and if their activities affect more than 6 square feet of interior lead-based paint or 20 square feet of exterior lead-based paint.

And, if you are trying to buy a pre-1978 property, have it checked out for lead based paint exposure both inside and out (and in the soil). That just makes good sense.

This is an excerpt from Carole’s monthly newsletter which contains great information on the Real Estate market of the Bay area and other helpful tips. Check out her site to sign up to receive her newsletter!