Since I have always been an environmental enthusiast, I decided to purchase a fixer-upper home when I purchased my first home. While others purchase these homes to save money, I purchased one to make sure I made it as eco-friendly as possible. Since I live in a very cold area, heating my home and my home's water without taking a toll on the environment was very important to me. I installed windows and doors that were very energy efficient and had solar panels installed on my roof. In addition, I looked into all of my hot water heater options, and decided to go with an on-demand water heater after I learned that a lot of energy can be wasted by some tank-style heaters. I am eager to share what I learned about building an environmentally friendly home on my new blog along with other tips for helping the environment!
Lead is naturally occurring and can be present in the soil and other areas around you when you are not even aware of it, and it can cause serious health problems and illness, especially in children. From keeping your home a safe lead-free environment to knowing where to find it outside of your home, be sure to have some basic knowledge and information about lead so you can stay safe. Here are some details to help you know what to expect with lead poisoning and staying protected from its harmful effects.
Understand Its Environment
Lead can be found in many areas in the soil around your yard, at the park, and at a worksite if you work in construction. Lead is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil or it may be present due to past contamination, so be sure you take precautions anytime you are at risk of exposure to it. Exposure to lead usually occurs when you ingest it accidentally or on purpose and it builds up inside your body.
Take your shoes off before you enter your home, as lead can get tracked easily into your home where it may be ingested by pets and children or yourself. And place doormats at the entrance to your home to help collect any lead that may be on your shoes. Wipe down your floors with a wet mop, vacuum up dust regularly, and don't let your children play with any older toys that may be painted in lead paint or made of lead in one of its materials, such as cheap costume jewelry.
Test in Your Home
If your home was built before 1978 according to the EPA, there is a chance it is contaminated with lead-based paint. This may be from the home's original construction and paint that was applied or with renovations that were completed prior to 1978. And just because a lead-based paint has been painted over with a non-lead-based paint, this does not mean you are protected.
Lead-based paint that is in good condition and covered with another material or a new layer of paint is not going to pose a threat unless you complete renovations where it puts off dust into the air or it begins to peel off. New paint covering old underlying paint can flake off and expose you to lead poisoning. The best way to find out if you have paint-containing lead is to have it tested, either professionally or with your own at-home testing system. Then, you can properly have the lead removed from your home by a lead-safe renovation specialist.
For more information on lead testing, contact a professional near you.