by Michael Mikolajczyk

Created on: March 15, 2009

Lead-based paint has become a sort of punchline in society today it is often used as a sort of nostalgic artifact of a bygone era. The truth about lead paint, and the lead poisoning that it can cause, however, are nothing to laugh about.

Lead paint was used commonly throughout residential homes and areas throughout the United States for many years, not becoming completely prohibited until the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a complete ban in 1978. Even today, it is used in certain areas such as the military and certain industrial areas due to its innate durability and resistance to the formation of rust.

Due to the fact that houses built before 1978 may have been decorated with lead-based paint, it is important to be cautious if you live in an older house. Although the primary dangers associated with lead poisoning apply to young children, even teenagers and adults should be aware of how dangerous even slight lead exposure can be to the development of the brain.

The symptoms of lead poisoning can be different due not only to the level and frequency of exposure, but also the age of the exposed. A young child that ingests even small amounts of lead-based paint may outwardly show no symptoms, but many studies suggest that neurological development may be harmed. When studied, the IQ scores of those afflicted with lead poisoning are consistently lower than unexposed children, even when controls are taken into account. In more extreme cases, motor development can be affected; unfortunately, high levels of lead exposure can easily lead to more serious conditions as well, even to the point of death.

Adults do in some cases show the similar mental sluggishness of lead poisoning, but since most affected adults are chronically exposed to lead, they tend to display slightly different and occasionally severe symptoms. Similar to young children, it is neurological functions that are reduced, often leading to lethargy, loss of appetite, headache, and the characteristic metallic taste in the mouth. If exposed consistently over a moderate period of time, severe consequences such as coma or death occasionally occur.

The true danger in lead paint lies in its ability to remain undetected until exposure causes symptoms to form. Considering that some children may show no outward symptoms, their cognitive and intellectual reduction is even more prevalent than some other dangers.

If lead paint is suspected to exist on the walls of a home in which you frequently stay, it is highly recommended that you not only have the home checked, but also take steps to remove the paint safely with the help of trained professionals. The dangers of lead poisoning are not worth the durability that the paint can provide.

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