The Importance of Lead Inspection for Health and Safety

The recent water crisis in Flint, MI, has drawn national attention to the lead contamination crisis. In fact, the health risks posed by the substance have been recognized since at least the Middle Ages. In the US, there are laws to limit health impacts, but many people still come into contact with the substance through pre-regulatory materials. While aging water infrastructure is certainly of concern, it is far from the only way humans are exposed to dangerous levels of lead. It is much more common for people to be exposed through paint inside their home or office. Before renovating older buildings, it is essential to conduct a lead inspection and take precautionary measures to prevent it from entering your blood.

In Flint, the state appointed a city manager to take over the city’s finances after it filed for bankruptcy. That manager made the financial decision to stop buying water from nearby Detroit and instead connect the intake pipes to the Flint River, which runs through the city. While the decision was fiscally sound, it had unintended consequences resulting in one of the worst public health crises in American history. The river water was laden with chlorides, a corrosive chemical. The city did not conduct a lead inspection on the water pipes, and when the chloride-laden water hit the pipes, it gradually introduced the heavy metal into the mix. People who bathed, drank and washed with that water were exposed to the toxic metal and suffered serious health consequences. As images of those aftermath flooded television screens across the country, many people were (understandably) concerned about the safety of their drinking water, but did not consider the exposure that the paint posed.

Lead pigment has been used since at least 400 BC The writings of Pliny the Elder and Theophrastus describe a method of extraction with vinegar to isolate the white pigment that was used for makeup and clothing dye. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, white pigment was the main source of white in artistic paintings. Writings from this period attest to the risk of stroke and paralysis from prolonged exposure to the substance. Still, despite this awareness, it continued to be used in white paint to improve the durability and gloss of the deck.

In the 1960s, a growing body of clinical science demonstrated the full extent of the harm, and not just harm to people subjected to prolonged exposure. Even with clear data showing cause and effect, it wasn’t until 1978 that it was finally banned. For houses built before 1978 (the majority of the housing stock in most urban areas), there is a high statistical probability that lead-based paint was used at some point. Before beginning any work, a lead inspection is essential. Sanding prep work can release particles into the air, where they can be inhaled, posing a risk not only to workers but also to people in the immediate area. Those concerned about their exposure should contact the EPA or their state health agency for more information.