HOW TO REDUCE YOUR LEAD INTAKE
Lead in food - After phasing out lead in gasoline, reducing lead levels in food should be our greatest health priority. Lead intake from fresh vegetables and fruits can be reduced by thorough washing and by peeling root vegetables. Food produced close to heavy traffic or lead-emitting industries will have more lead. Fertilizers with sewage sludge added to them may boost soil lead levels - check with the supplier. Lead in processed foods is picked up at various stages from growing to packaging. There are estimates that 13 to 22 per cent of our dietary lead intake is from lead-soldered food cans. Unfortunately, the U.S. does not regulate and test for lead in all canned foods. The current FDA guideline for lead in most food is 0.25 ppm. Food in cans with lead soldered seams can be dangerous, particularly cans that contain acidic substances such as fruit juices, fruits and some vegetables. Imported canned goods are more likely to have lead soldered seams. Cans with round bottoms (extruded cans) are safe and do not have a seam or use lead. You can test any can seam with LEAD INSPECTOR. Watch for white powdery lead compounds beneath corroded lead foil wine bottle wrap, especially after horizontal storage. You can test wine bottle wrap with LEAD INSPECTOR to see if it contains lead. Drinking water and plumbing - After several hours, tap water standing in pipes may dissolve unhealthy amounts of lead from pipe solder. In areas with soft, non mineralized water, run taps for 30 seconds or until cold before using water to drink or cook. Request lead-free solder when plumbing is installed or repaired, and don't drink water from the hot water tap, as it has higher levels of dissolved metals. Excessive lead levels in potable water may be determined by using LEAD INSPECTOR. Lead piping in older homes and solder joints can also be tested for lead using LEAD INSPECTOR. Click here for actionable levels for lead in potable (drinking) water. Soil and Dust/Dirt - The closer your home is to heavy automobile traffic or to lead-emitting industries, the more lead is deposited in household dust and in gardens. Every cigarette smoked adds a measurable amount of lead to household dust. Regular damp dusting, wet mopping, and cleaning, especially near windows and entrances, help control lead dust. You can test for lead particulate in dust by using Lead Inspector. Keep young children from playing near traffic or lead-emitting industries. Ensure they have a frequent, thorough hand-washing. Sucking a finger with city dust on it can add a serious dose of lead to a child's daily intake. If you suspect your garden has elevated lead deposits from traffic or industry, have soil tested with LEAD INSPECTOR, before growing food. Watch for peeling exterior paint, so that paint flakes don't contaminate soil around buildings. Burning candles with lead wicks not only emits lead particles into the air - but those particles also ultimately settle out as dust on walls and floors. The lead-dust from these candles may actually be mistaken for lead-based paint.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
issues with sanding old paints when doing home renovations
THE FACTS ABOUT LEAD POISONING Lead is practically everywhere in today's environment. It enters our bodies from many sources including defective glazes (pottery), drinking water, contaminated soil, airborne particulate, leaded gasoline, paint and several other sources. Symptoms of lead poisoning are stomach pains, constipation, diarrhea, aggressiveness, anxiousness, hyperactivity, muscle pain, weakness, weight loss, learning disabilities, convulsions and eventual death with chronic lead poisoning! Lead poisoning victims usually become anemic. This symptoms usually persist for about 2 weeks from time of exposure, then settle into the organs, bones and even hair! We still do not know the long term effects of lead exposure! These symptoms are sometimes overlooked by doctors and are not properly diagnosed as lead poisoning, since they are vague.
lead in existing paints
Paint and home renovations (Dirt and Dust) - In the 1970's and earlier, house paints contained as much as 50 per cent lead!!! Most household paints contained lead prior to 1979. Children should be watched in homes and day care centers to prevent their swallowing paint chips or chewing painted surfaces, including toys and older cribs. Test older cribs for lead based paints before purchasing or using as children may chew paint from the railings and ingest lead! Children should be kept away from sanding and paint removal (during renovations) in older houses, and adults should wear filter masks approved for use with toxic dusts. Burning off paint or using mechanical sanders boost your lead exposure. Paint chips and renovation dirt/dust can be checked for the presence of lead
THE FACTS ABOUT LEAD POISONING Lead is practically everywhere in today's environment. It enters our bodies from many sources including defective glazes (pottery), drinking water, contaminated soil, airborne particulate, leaded gasoline, paint and several other sources. Symptoms of lead poisoning are stomach pains, constipation, diarrhea, aggressiveness, anxiousness, hyperactivity, muscle pain, weakness, weight loss, learning disabilities, convulsions and eventual death with chronic lead poisoning! Lead poisoning victims usually become anemic. This symptoms usually persist for about 2 weeks from time of exposure, then settle into the organs, bones and even hair! We still do not know the long term effects of lead exposure! These symptoms are sometimes overlooked by doctors and are not properly diagnosed as lead poisoning, since they are vague.
lead in existing paints
Paint and home renovations (Dirt and Dust) - In the 1970's and earlier, house paints contained as much as 50 per cent lead!!! Most household paints contained lead prior to 1979. Children should be watched in homes and day care centers to prevent their swallowing paint chips or chewing painted surfaces, including toys and older cribs. Test older cribs for lead based paints before purchasing or using as children may chew paint from the railings and ingest lead! Children should be kept away from sanding and paint removal (during renovations) in older houses, and adults should wear filter masks approved for use with toxic dusts. Burning off paint or using mechanical sanders boost your lead exposure. Paint chips and renovation dirt/dust can be checked for the presence of lead
issues with asbestos when doing home renovations
What is Asbestos?
Where might I find asbestos?
Remember
Asbestos cement
Asbestos insulation board
Asbestos pipe and boiler lagging
Sprayed asbestos
Other building products
Domestic equipment
Vehicles
Identification
If I find asbestos what do I do?
Removal of samll amounts of asbestos cement
IMPORTANT
How do I dispose of asbestos?
.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral of which there are 3 main types of fibres, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue).Asbestos products are only dangerous when damaged or worn because they can release dust into the air. Asbestos dust is made up of tiny fibres which, if breathed in, are harmful and can cause eventual damage to the lungs even many years after the first exposure.The level of exposure at which asbestos fibres cause ill health is not known, what is known is that the more asbestos dust a person is exposed to the greater the risk. It is therefore essential to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum. Remember the dust is harmful so asbestos products should always be handled carefully.
Where might I find asbestos?
Asbestos is used in a multitude of materials that can be found in and around many homes. Remember
Asbestos is always there for a purpose. It is used either to provide heat resistance (as behind gas fires) or provide rigidity (as in asbestos cement garage roofs), and if removed it should always be replaced by a suitable non-asbestos product.Asbestos cement
One of the most common uses of asbestos in the home is in asbestos cement products. These have the appearance of a hard grey material which is produced either as sheets or mouldings. It is commonly used in the construction of garages, sheds, soffit boards, roof tiles, fire surrounds, eavespouts, drainpipes, flue pipes and water systems.You do not need a 'licence' to handle products containing asbestos cement.Asbestos insulation board
Used for fire protection, heat insulation and as ceiling tiles. Asbestos insulation is used in some warm air heating systems and also for lining cupboards which house the central heating unit. Certain storage heaters may also contain asbestos material. There are several modern substitutes which are now used as an alternative to asbestos boarding.Asbestos pipe and boiler lagging
This type of lagging is unlikely to be found in modern houses but may be found in flats or older houses.
Sprayed asbestos
This may be found in a small number of steel framed houses built before the mid 1970's and is used for protecting the structural steelworks and for insulation purposes.Work which will disturb insulation board, lagging or sprayed asbestos must be carried out by licenced asbestos contractors.Other building products
Some roof felts, textured plaster - 'Artex', paints, floor tiles, wall plugging compounds and specialists adhesives contain asbestos. Domestic equipment
Asbestos is commonly used in oven door seals, ironing boards and oven gloves. It may also be found in fire blankets and electric heaters.Vehicles
Some vehicle brake shoes or pads contain asbestos. When carrying out work on the braking system try to avoid breathing the dust or if possible wear a suitable mask. Do not under any circumstances use an air hose to clear the dust.
Identification
Identification is not easy as you cannot tell if a particular material contains asbestos by looking at it with the naked eye. The colour of the material does not indicate the type of asbestos which may be present. The ONLY way to be certain if a product does contain asbestos is for a reputable laboratory to analyse it. There are a number of private laboratories, which can provide this service.Enquiries should be made directly to the South Yorkshire Laboratory, Station Rd, Sheffield, S35 9YR, telephone (0114) 2037014. Other companies may also provide sampling and analysis services.If I find asbestos what should I do?
If asbestos is found in the home, look for signs of damage or dust being released by the material.
If any asbestos found is in good condition and not worn or damaged, it can be left in place. Added protection can be given by painting with emulsion paint, but remember to use an alkali resistant primer or coating for asbestos cement products.
If the asbestos is damaged or giving off dust it should be carefully removed. Large amounts should only be removed by a specialist contractor. Work on sprayed asbestos, lagging or insulation board should also be left to the specialists. Details of licensed asbestos removal companies can be found in the 'Yellow Pages' under 'asbestos removal'.Smaller amounts of asbestos cement can be removed safely by following the instructions below.
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement can be carried out safely if these guidelines are followed:
Wear a dust mask approved for asbestos obtained from safety equipment suppliers.
Wear a disposable overall.
Keep other people away from the work area.
Spread a plastic sheet under the working area to collect dust.
Remember to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum by wetting the material (providing there is no contact with electricity).
Remove whole sheets or components; do not break them up.Clean up settled dust with a damp cloth and seal in a plastic bag whilst still damp.
Do not use a domestic vacuum cleaner as fine asbestos dust will pass through the filter (industrial cleaners suitable for asbestos can be hired).
Wash well afterwards.
IMPORTANTDo not saw, drill, break, scrape, brush orscrew any asbestos sheeting.
No attempt should be made to dismantle gas or electric appliances. Your local gas or electrical supplier may be able to give you advice on whether a particular system contains any asbestos.How do I dispose of asbestos?
To dispose of small quantities of dusty or loose asbestos waste, dampen it to stop dust escaping and seal it in a strong plastic bag marked ASBESTOS.Oven gloves, simmering pads and similar small items should also be sealed in a suitable plastic bag as soon as they start to show signs of wear.Large asbestos cement sheets should not be broken up but should be wrapped in polythene sheeting and marked ASBESTOS.Do not under any circumstances put waste asbestos in your dustbin or refuse chute.Asbestos cement products can be taken to the City Recycling Centres by householders and be disposed of in special skips. Care must be taken to prevent contamination of the vehicle. To ensure that facilities are available contact your local recycling centre:
What is Asbestos?
Where might I find asbestos?
Remember
Asbestos cement
Asbestos insulation board
Asbestos pipe and boiler lagging
Sprayed asbestos
Other building products
Domestic equipment
Vehicles
Identification
If I find asbestos what do I do?
Removal of samll amounts of asbestos cement
IMPORTANT
How do I dispose of asbestos?
.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral of which there are 3 main types of fibres, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue).Asbestos products are only dangerous when damaged or worn because they can release dust into the air. Asbestos dust is made up of tiny fibres which, if breathed in, are harmful and can cause eventual damage to the lungs even many years after the first exposure.The level of exposure at which asbestos fibres cause ill health is not known, what is known is that the more asbestos dust a person is exposed to the greater the risk. It is therefore essential to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum. Remember the dust is harmful so asbestos products should always be handled carefully.
Where might I find asbestos?
Asbestos is used in a multitude of materials that can be found in and around many homes. Remember
Asbestos is always there for a purpose. It is used either to provide heat resistance (as behind gas fires) or provide rigidity (as in asbestos cement garage roofs), and if removed it should always be replaced by a suitable non-asbestos product.Asbestos cement
One of the most common uses of asbestos in the home is in asbestos cement products. These have the appearance of a hard grey material which is produced either as sheets or mouldings. It is commonly used in the construction of garages, sheds, soffit boards, roof tiles, fire surrounds, eavespouts, drainpipes, flue pipes and water systems.You do not need a 'licence' to handle products containing asbestos cement.Asbestos insulation board
Used for fire protection, heat insulation and as ceiling tiles. Asbestos insulation is used in some warm air heating systems and also for lining cupboards which house the central heating unit. Certain storage heaters may also contain asbestos material. There are several modern substitutes which are now used as an alternative to asbestos boarding.Asbestos pipe and boiler lagging
This type of lagging is unlikely to be found in modern houses but may be found in flats or older houses.
Sprayed asbestos
This may be found in a small number of steel framed houses built before the mid 1970's and is used for protecting the structural steelworks and for insulation purposes.Work which will disturb insulation board, lagging or sprayed asbestos must be carried out by licenced asbestos contractors.Other building products
Some roof felts, textured plaster - 'Artex', paints, floor tiles, wall plugging compounds and specialists adhesives contain asbestos. Domestic equipment
Asbestos is commonly used in oven door seals, ironing boards and oven gloves. It may also be found in fire blankets and electric heaters.Vehicles
Some vehicle brake shoes or pads contain asbestos. When carrying out work on the braking system try to avoid breathing the dust or if possible wear a suitable mask. Do not under any circumstances use an air hose to clear the dust.
Identification
Identification is not easy as you cannot tell if a particular material contains asbestos by looking at it with the naked eye. The colour of the material does not indicate the type of asbestos which may be present. The ONLY way to be certain if a product does contain asbestos is for a reputable laboratory to analyse it. There are a number of private laboratories, which can provide this service.Enquiries should be made directly to the South Yorkshire Laboratory, Station Rd, Sheffield, S35 9YR, telephone (0114) 2037014. Other companies may also provide sampling and analysis services.If I find asbestos what should I do?
If asbestos is found in the home, look for signs of damage or dust being released by the material.
If any asbestos found is in good condition and not worn or damaged, it can be left in place. Added protection can be given by painting with emulsion paint, but remember to use an alkali resistant primer or coating for asbestos cement products.
If the asbestos is damaged or giving off dust it should be carefully removed. Large amounts should only be removed by a specialist contractor. Work on sprayed asbestos, lagging or insulation board should also be left to the specialists. Details of licensed asbestos removal companies can be found in the 'Yellow Pages' under 'asbestos removal'.Smaller amounts of asbestos cement can be removed safely by following the instructions below.
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement can be carried out safely if these guidelines are followed:
Wear a dust mask approved for asbestos obtained from safety equipment suppliers.
Wear a disposable overall.
Keep other people away from the work area.
Spread a plastic sheet under the working area to collect dust.
Remember to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum by wetting the material (providing there is no contact with electricity).
Remove whole sheets or components; do not break them up.Clean up settled dust with a damp cloth and seal in a plastic bag whilst still damp.
Do not use a domestic vacuum cleaner as fine asbestos dust will pass through the filter (industrial cleaners suitable for asbestos can be hired).
Wash well afterwards.
IMPORTANTDo not saw, drill, break, scrape, brush orscrew any asbestos sheeting.
No attempt should be made to dismantle gas or electric appliances. Your local gas or electrical supplier may be able to give you advice on whether a particular system contains any asbestos.How do I dispose of asbestos?
To dispose of small quantities of dusty or loose asbestos waste, dampen it to stop dust escaping and seal it in a strong plastic bag marked ASBESTOS.Oven gloves, simmering pads and similar small items should also be sealed in a suitable plastic bag as soon as they start to show signs of wear.Large asbestos cement sheets should not be broken up but should be wrapped in polythene sheeting and marked ASBESTOS.Do not under any circumstances put waste asbestos in your dustbin or refuse chute.Asbestos cement products can be taken to the City Recycling Centres by householders and be disposed of in special skips. Care must be taken to prevent contamination of the vehicle. To ensure that facilities are available contact your local recycling centre:
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
occupational health and safety issues
Renovating and Retiling your bathroom
when removing your old tiles whether vinyl or ceramic beware they contain harmful dusts
most of the existing adhesive used in the past contains asbestos do not scrape, sand or use removal methods that will create harmful dust. Contact the adhesive manufacturer and follow the guidelines outlined in the RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING INSTITUTE’s (RFCI) pamphlet, RECOMMENDED WORK PRACTICES FOR REMOVAL OF RESILIENT FLOOR COVERINGS.
Before its health hazards were documented, asbestos was commonly used in floor tiles, ceiling tiles and pipe insulation. If a material containing 1 percent or more asbestos is broken or crumbled, it is "rendered friable," and asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers can increase the risk of developing certain lung diseases including lung cancer, mesotheloma and asbestosis,
Lab reports in the last decade indicated that ceramic floor and wall tiles contained an average of three percent asbestos
Vinyl floor tiles and the associated adhesive also contain asbestos
Renovating and Retiling your bathroom
when removing your old tiles whether vinyl or ceramic beware they contain harmful dusts
most of the existing adhesive used in the past contains asbestos do not scrape, sand or use removal methods that will create harmful dust. Contact the adhesive manufacturer and follow the guidelines outlined in the RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING INSTITUTE’s (RFCI) pamphlet, RECOMMENDED WORK PRACTICES FOR REMOVAL OF RESILIENT FLOOR COVERINGS.
Before its health hazards were documented, asbestos was commonly used in floor tiles, ceiling tiles and pipe insulation. If a material containing 1 percent or more asbestos is broken or crumbled, it is "rendered friable," and asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers can increase the risk of developing certain lung diseases including lung cancer, mesotheloma and asbestosis,
Lab reports in the last decade indicated that ceramic floor and wall tiles contained an average of three percent asbestos
Vinyl floor tiles and the associated adhesive also contain asbestos
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