Thursday, July 24, 2014

Who Should Take Responsibility For The Pre-1978 Lead Paint In Homes

By Miranda Sweeney


Lead based paints were banned in 1978 and home premises that were constructed prior to that period may contain this hazardous metal. Homeowners buying real estate properties should ensure that they know the levels of this metal especially if the homes where designed in those old days. Inspecting premises of pre-1978 lead paint contamination in San Diego, CA can help prevent health complications associated with such a metal.

However, considering that as homes age, paints begin peeling, they will slowly disperse the metal to the environment. As those paints peel off, the metal particles are released to surroundings. Children are likely to ingest or inhale such particles during their hand to mouth activity. Kids will put almost anything they come across in their mouth.

Any exposure no matter how less it may be, it could lead to long-standing effects. Usually, there are rare immediate symptoms and most of the signs will often occur years and decades after exposure. This means that in most cases, lead poisoning goes unrecognized until later dates.

Often, the effects of exposure to lead are not felt immediately and many a times, they occur slowly. With repetitive exposure, the level of such metal in body increases reaching the threshold amounts where symptoms begin to appear. The effect can be life threatening and premises owners should make a point to have their properties inspected.

Luckily, this metal can be removed by scraping the old paints and repainting homes with new lead-free paints. When homebuyers are purchasing homes, they should inquire with the real estate agents or sellers of any possible presence of leaded paints. If a property was constructed during those old days, probably it has contaminated paints.

When doing renovations on buildings suspected to contain contaminated paints, contractors should evacuate all people from those properties. No other people are allowed to access a building being renovated. Condoning such a building will prevent possible exposure to such particles.

Exposure to such a metal might lead to conflicts and possible lawsuits. Real estate agents ought to inform homebuyers of any possibility of having contaminated paints in buildings they are selling so that the owners are not put at risk. Sellers of homes should as well be in the forefront in informing new buyers of the same aspect. It needs common understanding and a consulted effort to ensure people occupying buildings are protected from possible exposure.

During renovations, the paints are disturbed thus allowing the particles to be released in air, soils, and other surfaces. Contractors working on properties said to contain these paints should be knowledgeable on how to handle the substance. They need to use protective clothing including masks, skin covers, gloves, and overalls. With the right approach in mitigating the risks associated with leaded paints, family, home dwellers, and contractors can remain safe when they are in the properties.




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