Lead Paint Poisoning
 Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most at risk, because their bodies are growing quickly.Exposure to lead comes from several sources, primarily the paint used in housing, leaded gasoline, and lead-contaminated drinking water. Of these sources, lead paint and lead paint dust are the most common. Lead paint dust is actually more dangerous than lead paint chips because smaller particles of lead are more easily absorbed.
Despite a worldwide movement to ban the use of lead in paint, paint manufacturers and the lead industry funded a massive effort in the United States to delay any sort of legislation regarding lead. By 1971 it was estimated that two hundred children a year died from lead poisoning. In 1971, Congress finally took action by passing the Lead Based poisoning Prevention Act restricting residential use of lead paint and banning its use on toys and children’s furniture. Unfortunately, marine paint, farm equipment paint, automobile paints and industrial finishes are not covered by this Act and continue to contain lead.
By the time the United States caught up with European lead regulation, millions of tons of lead had been applied to the exterior and interiors of buildings, cribs, toys, and porch railings. One group estimates that there are 3 million tons of lead in the environment and 57 million housing units that still contain some amount of lead paint. Most housing built before 1978 has some lead paint. House built before 1950 are potentially a greater risk as older paints had higher concentrations of lead.
A blood test is the only reliable way to diagnose lead poisoning. The test results are measured in micrograms per deciliter. In the 1960’s, people were not considered lead poisoned until the blood level was 60 mg/deciliter. In 1978 the threshold number was cut to 30 mg/deciliter, and it was lowered again in 1985. Currently, the Center for Disease Control states the threshold for lead poisoning is just 10 mg/deciliter.
It is estimated that 1 out of every 10 preschoolers suffers from some form of lead poisoning. Children are at greater risk than adults because their bodies absorb up to 50% of the lead they ingest while adults retain only 10%. Children age seven and younger are in a special risk group due to developmental difficulties associated with lead exposure. Even low levels of lead can block an infant’s mental development. Lead exposure is linked with reduced intelligence, learning disabilities, low graduation rates, and criminal behavior. In adults, risks include increased blood pressure and the potential for stroke, kidney disease, and cancer for individuals whose MCL (maximum contaminant levels) are raised over a lifetime of exposure.
National lead reduction efforts have continued in the form of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act passed by Congress in 1992. This law affects landlords who must inform potential tenants of the presence of lead paint on the rental property and/or perform lead abatement to lessen the risk of exposure. Disclosure of the presence of lead to potential buyers of a home is also mandated by law. Lead inspections are the legal right of potential buyers as are inspections for radon and asbestos. Contractors should also test for lead prior to any renovation work to prevent liability for raising lead dust or uncovering lead paint during construction. The federal government itself has been required to abate its own properties constructed prior to 1978. Even with the reduction efforts of Congress, it is estimated that over 3.5 million homes in the United States still contain hazardous levels of lead paint or lead-contaminated dust.
If you or a loved one has suffered from exposure to lead paint, call Lawrence E. Feldman & Associates at (888) 766-2690 or (215) 885-3302 or submit an online questionnaire.
Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are:
- deteriorating lead-based paint,
- lead contaminated dust, and
- lead contaminated residential soil.
EPA is playing a major role in addressing these residential lead hazards. In 1978, there were nearly three to four million children with elevated blood lead levels in the United States. In the 1990s, that number had dropped to 434,000 kids, and it continues to decline. While we still have a significant challenge, EPA is very proud of how federal, state, and private sector partners have coordinated efforts with the public to better protect our children.
Since the 1980's, EPA and its federal partners have phased out lead in gasoline, reduced lead in drinking water, reduced lead in industrial air pollution, and banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. States and municipalities have set up programs to identify and treat lead poisoned children and to rehabilitate deteriorated housing. Parents, too, have greatly helped to reduce lead exposures to their children by cleaning and maintaining homes, having their children's blood lead levels checked, and promoting proper nutrition. The Agency’s Lead Awareness Program continues to work to protect human health and the environment against the dangers of lead by developing regulations, conducting research, and designing educational outreach efforts and materials.
This site provides information about lead, lead hazards, and provides some simple steps to protect your family. For basic information start with the links to the right. For more specific information, and to search for and download documents use the links on the left. You can also order materials or speak to an information specialist by contacting The National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).
Lead Paint : Brain Damage and Other Effects
Lead paint exposure at excessive levels can cause brain damage; affect a child’s growth; damage kidneys; impair hearing; cause vomiting, headaches, and appetite loss; and cause learning and behavioral problems. In adults, lead can increase blood pressure and can cause digestive problems, kidney damage, nerve disorders, sleep problems, muscle and joint pain, and mood changes.
Fetuses, infants, and children are more vulnerable to lead exposure than adults since lead is more easily absorbed into growing bodies. Also, the tissues of small children are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
Exposure to lead is estimated by measuring levels in the blood (micrograms per deciliter). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set a level of concern at 10 micrograms per deciliter. The CDC recommends testing children at their one-year checkup or at six months if the child is at risk of high-dose exposure.
The major source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. However, approximately 24 million housing units in the United States have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than 4 million of these dwellings are homes to one or more young children.
The law limits the amount of time after a patient incurs an injury to file suit. The amount of time varies based on the theory of liability and the state in which the patient files the suit. If you or a loved one has developed brain damage, contact us. We can help you understand your rights and options, and ensure that you have the opportunity to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case and to learn your legal rights.
|
