I’ve been in the environmental industry for 15 years now. I took my first class regarding lead based paint in 1995. Despite this, I can’t convince my mother and my sister that it’s not just children that get lead poisoned and lead poisoning can occur in other ways than eating paint chips. My mom and my sister are rather intelligent people. My mom has a bachelor’s degree in history and my sister has a PhD in biophysics. However, it goes to show how strong the stereotypes and misconceptions are regarding lead.
The first misconception is that “only children get lead poisoned.” This is absolutely false. The one main difference between a child or an adult getting lead poisoned is the amount of lead it takes. Children are considered to have elevated blood leads if their blood lead levels are 10 ug/dl. For adults the amount is 50 ug/dl. Lead is the most dangerous in children under the age of 7 years because their brains are still developing. Lead poisoning in small children can cause permanent brain damage. In many other ways lead affects adults the same way it does children.
The second misconception is that “you can only get lead poisoned by eating paint chips.” This is absolutely false. Unless a child or adult has pica, a condition in which someone eats non-food items, children are usually exposed by “second hand” contact. For example, a cat sits in a window well that has paint chips and dust in it and regularly sleeps with the child; a window is left open and blows the paint chips and dust onto children’s toys or clothes; children play with their toys near a door where paint chips and dust have accumulated. The dust gets on their toys which then gets on the child’s hands. With adults, exposure is usually through hobbies or occupation.
The last misconception is that “lead only occurs in paint.” The term “lead based paint” is somewhat of a misnomer. Lead can occur in any coating including primers, varnish, stains, shellacs, etc. I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked on a jobsite, “Why are you testing that? It’s not painted,” while I was testing something stained. Indeed, I’ve found lead in primers, varnish, stains and shellac.