Windows Pose Lead Dangers For Children

September 17, 11:46 AMParenting ExaminerTerreece Clarke

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Parenting Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Your charming old windows could be hurting your child.

USA Today is reporting that the simple act of opening and closing a window - something parents do all summer long can increase a child's exposure to lead. While lead-based paints were banned decades ago, this toxic substance continues to find its way into the bodies of young children - those most harmed by its affects.

How?

Studies have shown that older homes - homes built before 1978 when lead paint was banned - have windows that have been painted with lead paint. Even if that paint has since been painted over, the process of opening or closing the window helps to knock loose and grind up lead paint flakes into a fine powder. This powder then coats various surfaces of the home.

So does this mean you can never open a window? Not at all, but it does mean parents will have to become proactive in preventing lead poisoning in their children.

• Have the paint around your windows tested. While there are many lead testing kits available at your local hardware store, none of these products have been evaluated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can send samples out to an independent lab for testing as well.
• Have your children tested for lead. While it can take years for high levels to return to normal and the effects of exposure may not present themselves immediately, it is important to know your child's levels and take action to help prevent further poisoning. Ask your pediatrician or your local department of health for more information.
• A short term solution is to have the paint sealed. This won't prevent the continued breakdown of the paint beneath and it is possible to have the lead paint particles mix with the new paint.
• Have the windows removed. Look for public programs within your town that may help with the costs of removal. It is important to decrease the chances of further lead contamination when the windows are removed. When in doubt, use a professional.
• Another short term solution is to keep surfaces clean and free from all window debris. Using a disposable cloth and a high phosphorus solution it is a good TEMPORARY solution.

source: The Consumer Product Safety Commission