Lead was added to paint until 1978. So if you are painting a house
constructed before1979, lead paint was almost certainly used to paint it. If
you are old enogh, you must remember that lead was also added to gasoline until
it was made illegal to do so.
I realize that Internet etiquette dictates not to use capital
letters and that it is considered shouting, but I wanted to keep this serious
warning intact. I copied this warning right off of the lid of a paint can. I
want to make this common knowledge. I know that people rarely read the warnings
on labels of any kind, so I am putting this lead paint warning here so that it
will be read and taken to heart.
WARNING! If you scrape, sand or remove old paint, you may release
lead dust. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO LEAD DUST CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH
AS BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID
EXPOSURE. Wear a NIOSH approved respirator to control lead exposure. Clean up
carefully with a HEPA vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to
protect yourself and your family by calling the National Lead Information
Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to www.epa.gov/lead .
Don’t panic,
lead paint poses no danger if it is intact and undisturbed. Flaking or peeling
paint does pose a danger to children if they chew on paint chips. Paint chips
have a sweet taste, so be careful, and remove all peeling or flaking paint.
Where lead paint poses a hazard is when painting or renovations are done. That
is when sanding and scraping can put lead dust in the air and have it settle on
surfaces.
Starting in April 2010, federal law will require that anyone
performing renovations, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based
paint in homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978 must be
certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Until that time, the EPA recommends that anyone performing these repairs,
renovations or painting in pre-1978 structures follow these three simple rules:
-CONTAIN the work area
-MINIMIZE dust
-CLEAN up thoroughly
If you have a Diamond Painting contractor paint your home,
make sure they follow these work practices.
In addition to lead-based paint, non lead-based that is in use
today requires special precautions to avoid harm to your health. I am going to
copy another warning off of a paint can to make sure that you read it. It is as
follows:
CAUTION:
Use only with adequate ventilation. To avoid overexposure, open
windows and doors or use other means to ensure fresh air entry during
application and drying. If you experiencine eye watering, headache or dizzines,
increase fresh air or wear properly fitted respirator or leave the area. When
spraying, wear proper respiratory protection. Adequate ventilation is required
before sanding or abrading the dry film. If adequate ventilation cannot be
provided, wear an approved particulate respirator [I always use a dust mask
when sanding because I like my lungs.] In all cases follow respirator
manufacturer’s direction for respirator use. Avoid contact with eyes and skin.
[Wear safety glasses with side shields.] Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not
take internally. Close container after each use. FIRST AID: In case of eye
contact, flush with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Get medical
attention. If swallowed , get medical attention immediately.
I don’t want to scare you away from your painting project or even
hire a contractor to paint your home. I also don’t want to scare away any new
professional painters. It is a great job. I have been doing it for years, and
my health is excellent.
I had to inform you of all of these hazards because it is very
important. Go to the government web site for a lot more information on
lead-based paint. I am glad that you now know about all of these hazards. Like
everything else in life, it pays to be careful. Take care.
Web : https://justcalendars.com.au/collections/diamond-art
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