Lead Paint

NEARLY ALL of the single-family and multifamily residences in Volker were built before 1978. At that time, interior paints contained lead. So what?s the big deal?
Paint chips and dust from lead- based paint can be very dangerous if you are pregnant or have young children. Lead can cause learning and behavior disorders, kidney problems and other disabling conditions.

Childhood lead poisoning is the number one environmental health risk facing children in industrialized countries today. In the United States, nearly one million children under the age of 6 living in older homes have toxic levels of lead in their bodies, according to Ralph Scott of The Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.

Test Your Children
You can?t tell by looking at a child if he or she has lead poisoning. Most children have no symptoms until serious damage has already occurred. The only way to know if your child has lead in his or her body is to have their blood tested. All children, beginning at 6-12 months old, should have a blood test. The KCMO Health
Department offers free or reduced fee testing. Call (816) 513-6048 for an appointment.

Protect Your Children
Here are some things you can do to prevent lead poisoning:
? Wet-dust or wet-mop window sills, woodwork and floors.
? If you rent, report chipping paint to your landlord.
? Wash toys and pacifiers.
? Don?t let children chew on painted surfaces.
? Wash children?s hands before eating and at bedtime.

Think Before You Scrape
Before starting your next rehab project, consider if what you?ll be doing will disturb old paint. If you will be removing paint, use a wet-scraping method and catch scraps on a drop cloth. Don?t dry sand, dry scrape or use a heat gun. These methods simply scatter the lead dust into the air, which children can inhale.
The dust also settles onto all household surfaces, which children touch, then ingest every time they place their fingers in their mouths.
This issue is so important that a new federal law was passed last October requiring all contractors, landlords and remodeling subcontractors to inform residents of the potential risks involved in disturbing lead-based paint. They are also required to follow strict guidelines as to how the renovation or repair work is done. The regulations apply to all work that disturbs painted surfaces larger than two square feet. The regulations do not apply to homeowners who work on their own homes.
If you are considering a repair or renovation project that could disturb lead-based paint, call LeadBusters at (913) 438-LEAD for information about free testing, supplies and home repair. KCMO Health Department?s Project Lead-Safe offers free assistance in removing lead hazards from low income households. Call Mark Graviett at (816) 513-6048 for more information.