Lead Paint Poisoning in Cincinnati Housing

Lead is a toxic metal. Lead based paint is one of the leading causes of lead poisoning in the United States. According to Cincinnati’s Community Development Housing Division, “one of the primary sources of Cincinnati lead poisoning is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings.”

Cincinnati Lead Paint Poisoning

Lead is a toxic metal. Lead based paint is one of the leading causes of lead poisoning in the United States. In the 1800s, lead became a popular paint ingredient because of its durability, pigmentation, its ability to act as a drying agent, and its resistance to mildew.

In 1978, lead based paints were banned for use in housing due to its high toxicity. According to data gathered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, roughly 24 million housing units in the U.S.A. have lead paint used in them and also contain high levels of lead-contaminated dust. Of those 24 million homes, it is believed that over 4 million of them are home to at least one child. Children from low-income families are eight times more likely to be poisoned by lead paint. Low-income families often live in older, less expensive housing units, (often pre-1978) thus increasing their risk of being exposed to lead based paint.

According to Cincinnati’s Community Development Housing Division, “one of the primary sources of Cincinnati lead poisoning is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings.” Although a house may look clean, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and becomes easier to inhale or ingest. Lead based poisoning in children typically occurs when a child puts their hands in their mouth after touching a contaminated object, puts a contaminated object directly into their mouth, or actually eats lead based paint chips. Poisoning by way of eating paint chips is rare, but research has shown that lead-contaminated dust is typically the culprit. In homes, concentrated levels of lead paint are usually found in wooden windows, casings, and sills, wooden doors and casings, plaster walls, stairs, railings, and banisters.

When lead is taken into the body it is stored in the bones. Moreover, in the event of a fracture, pregnancy, or menopause the likelihood of the lead being released into the blood stream is very high. The release of lead into the blood stream often causes serious lifelong physical and neurological problems.  In order to protect yourself one should maintain bone mass and be sure to consume calcium and vitamin D, although calcium supplements made from bone, shellfish, or dolomite should be avoided for danger of containing high levels of the poisonous metal.

In addition to lead based paint, lead poisoning can be caused by brass faucets, particularly in homes built prior to 1986. In 1986 a law was passed to largely ban the use of lead in plumbing material. But prior to this ban, homes were very likely to have lead pipes and fixtures. The law allows plumbing that contains up to 8 percent of the harmful metal to be labeled lead free, most commonly in brass or chrome-plated faucets and fixtures. So, although something may be labeled lead free, it may indeed contain lead.

Resources

http://www.ci.cincinnati.oh.us/cdap/pages/-3517-/
www.ci.cincinnati.oh.us/cdap/pages/-34558-/
www.ci.cincinnati.oh.us/cdap/pages/-34556-/
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26559681/