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Brought
to you by Mandell Lead Inspectors
About
Lead Poisoning
Why
do you need an inspection?
What
can you do if you have lead paint in your home?
How
can we tell if we have safe levels of lead in our home?
Do
I have to remove all the Lead Paint to be safe?
Does
every home built before 1978 have Lead Paint?
I
do not have any small children, so why is lead poisoning important
to me?
The threat of lead poisoning is important to everyone because
lead dust can poison anyone, regardless of age. Children generally
have a lower level of tolerance but high concentrations of lead
dust can effect everyone.
According
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Even
children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead."
"1 out of every 11 children in the United States has dangerous
levels of lead in the bloodstream"
Anyone
(adults as well as children) can have their blood levels elevate
within 48 hours of exposure to lead paint; which can result
in many negative health conditions.
EPA reports that some of the effects of Lead Poisoning in children
are…. ·
- Damage
to the brain and nervous system at low levels of lead
- Behavior
and learning problems (such as hyperactivity, reading and
learning disabilities)
- Slowed
growth
- Hearing
problems
- Headaches
The
vast majority of childhood lead-poisoning cases go undiagnosed
and untreated, since most poisoned children have no obvious
symptoms.
HUD
and EPA report that Lead Poisoning in adults can result in…
(unfortunately most symptoms are ones confused with common problems)
- Difficulties
during pregnancy
- Other
reproductive problems (in both men and women)
- High
blood pressure · Digestive problems
- Nerve
disorders
- Memory
and concentration problems
- Muscle
and joint pain
- Abdominal
discomfort
- Anemia
- Colic
- Constipation
- Excessive
tiredness
- Fine
tremors
- Headache
- irritability
or anxiety
- Loss
of appetite
- Muscle
and joint pain
- Pallor
- Pigmentation
on the gums ("lead line")
- Sexual
impotence
For
more technical information please refer to these sites:
CDC
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
United
States Enviromental Protection Agency
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