Lead Toxicity and Home Ownership

Lead is a toxic metal that has been used for centuries in various applications, including construction and painting. While the use of lead-based paints has been banned in most countries, many homes still contain lead-based paint, which can lead to lead toxicity. Lead toxicity can be extremely dangerous, especially for children and pregnant women. In this article, we will discuss the danger of lead toxicity in the home and how to remediate lead from your house.

If you are selling a home in North Carolina that was built before 1978, you must provide a lead based paint addendum to potential buyers where you disclose your knowledge of the use of lead in the home. If you are buying a home in North Carolina that was built before 1978, you should ensure that you receive the lead based paint addendum and consider using your right to check for lead during the due diligence period and you should receive a brochure from your real estate broker about the hazards of lead in the home that goes into further detail than this article.

What is lead toxicity?

Lead toxicity is a condition that occurs when the body accumulates too much lead. It can accumulate in your body in a number of ways, including breathing in lead dust, swallowing lead dust or tainted water, swallowing lead paint flakes, and more. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause a variety of health problems, including damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and anemia. Children under the age of 6 are particularly vulnerable to lead toxicity because their bodies are still developing, and they are more likely to put lead-contaminated objects in their mouths.

Where can lead be found in the home?

Lead can be found in many places in the home, including lead-based paint, soil, dust, and drinking water. Lead-based paint was commonly used in homes built before 1978, so if you live in an older home, there is a good chance that it contains lead-based paint. Lead can also be found in soil around homes located near highways or other sources of pollution. Dust in homes can also contain lead, particularly if there is lead-based paint or soil tracked into the home. Finally, lead can enter drinking water through old lead pipes or lead solder used to connect pipes.

How to remediate lead from your house?

If you suspect that your home contains lead-based paint, it is important to have it tested. You can purchase a lead testing kit at most hardware stores or hire a professional to test for lead. If lead is found, there are several steps you can take to remediate it.

• Cover or encapsulate lead-based paint - If the lead-based paint is in good condition, you can cover it with a layer of latex paint or seal it with an encapsulant. This will prevent the lead-based paint from flaking and releasing lead into the air.

• Remove lead-based paint - If the lead-based paint is in poor condition, it may need to be removed. This should only be done by a professional who is trained in lead abatement. DIY removal of lead-based paint can actually make the problem worse by releasing lead dust into the air.

• Clean up lead dust - If your home contains lead-based paint, there may be lead dust on surfaces throughout your home. Regular cleaning can help to reduce the amount of lead dust in your home. Use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces, and vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap lead dust.

• Test your water - If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead pipes or lead solder connecting the pipes. This can lead to lead leaching into your drinking water. You can have your water tested for lead by a certified laboratory. If lead is found, you may need to replace your pipes or install a water filtration system.

• Remove lead from soil - If your soil is contaminated with lead, you may need to remove it or cover it with clean soil. This should only be done by a professional who is trained in lead abatement.

Lead toxicity can be extremely dangerous, especially for children and pregnant women. If you suspect that your home contains lead-based paint, soil, dust, or drinking water, it is important to have it tested and consult your pediatrician or primary physician.

After years in advertising and marketing, living and working for companies in Georgia, North Carolina, and China, I decided to acquire my real estate license so I can use my established marketing and communications skills to help others and work for myself.

For many people, buying and/or selling their home is one of the most important and most stressful times of their lives. Having an advocate and an agent who has experienced years of corporate marketing, managing teams through challenging projects with tight deadlines, and negotiating complex deals - will aid in the home buying or selling process.

If you or anyone you know is interested in real estate investment, a personal real estate search, or property management, please reach out to me directly - I would love to provide my services to help find your goal property as soon as possible.

Bo Hardegree, NC REALTOR®
Espin Realty
[email protected]
704-748-0958