Here is some important safety information I have just discovered about the dangers of lead paints that I need to share with you in order for you to avoid exposing yourself and your family to potential ill health.
You are probably already aware of the heavy metal that is known as lead, but you may not be aware that for many years it was used as an additive in paint. It was primarily used to aid drying and to increase the durability of the paint, unfortunately when lead paint becomes old and flakey it can be inhaled and cause harm, especially to small children.
Lead paint was eventually outlawed in 1978 but in older houses it still persists to this day, as it may well do in older children’s toys.
The biggest risk of exposure to lead based paint comes with renovating an old home that includes surfaces that have been painted with lead based paint. Once sanding or scraping of these surfaces begins, particles that are released into the air can be inhaled unwittingly by the operative, so it is crucial that you test for lead based paint before you start renovating any older home.
If you employ the services of a professional contractor to carry out the renovation, then make sure that they are certified to remove lead based paint, as they will make sure that they take the necessary precautions to avoid contamination.
As for toys that may contain lead, the exposure risk is not as high as during a renovation but is still something that you should bear in mind when allowing your children to play with these kinds of toys. This is something that should be more concerning if the toy comes from a country that is not so hot on regulations outlawing lead based paint in its toys.
If you suspect that one of your child’s toys contains lead, then remove the toy and dispose of it, and only buy toys from places that you can trust and know that they do not use lead based paint.
No comments:
Post a Comment