COPING WITH LEAD AND ASBESTOS

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Issue #117 - May/June 1989

TO YOUR HEALTH

In most cases, either hire professionals to handle them, or leave well enough alone.

Often as not , the simplest, most effective method of alleviating an environmental hazard in the home is to remove the offending substance. In the case of two major household contaminants, however, this isn't as easy or safe as it may sound. Careless removal of lead or asbestos can dramatically increase, not reduce, the hazard to you and subsequent occupants of the house.

Lead

There are two main sources of household lead: lead-based paint and plumbing solder. Both uses of lead have been banned-since 1978 in the case of paint, and since 1987 for copper plumbing systems-but many (if not most) houses have some lead sources. A common misconception is that lead-based paint was used only on the exteriors of houses. In fact, until the hazards began to become clear in the late 1950s, lead in paint was costly and considered an indicator of quality. Inexpensive homes might have had it only on their exteriors, while fancier houses might have had lead-painted woodwork in all areas where moisture could be a problem: especially windows and window frames, but also kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated trim.

Though the hazards of lead have been well documented for some time, the lower limit at which problems occur has been under almost constant revision for over a decade—always downward. In 1975, the Centers for Disease Control defined an elevated blood lead level as 40 or more micrograms per deciliter blood; in 1978, they reduced that to 30; in 1985 the level was cut to 25; and this year it will probably go down to 20 or even 15.

Lead is most hazardous to the fetus and to children. In the immature, it causes anemia, birth defects, damage to the kidneys and stomach, hyperactivity, poor balance, learning disabilities and retardation. In adults, it can cause kidney damage, hypertension, reproductive dysfunction and other neurological/physical symptoms. In addition, lead becomes lodged in bone over time and may be the cause of age-related mental problems when bone deteriorates and releases it.

How widespread is lead poisoning? That isn't clear, because lead has received much less attention from regulators than many other indoor pollutants. There are few regulations concerning lead. The federal government has no actual standards and doesn't consider it to be hazardous waste for disposal purposes. At this time, however, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is in the process of developing guidelines.