Understanding the basics about lead and the danger it poses in homes and businesses in Northern Colorado is the first step in protecting you and your family from exposure. Aqua Restoration offers lead testing and remediation services, helping home and business owners to ensure their residences and places of work are free from this very dangerous element.
What is Lead?
Lead is a heavy metal that is soft, malleable, and highly resistant to corrosion. It has been used for centuries in a variety of applications, including in batteries, ammunition, and pipes. Lead can also be found in older homes built before 1978, as it was commonly used in paint and plumbing.
Lead is one of the naturally occurring toxins that is found around the world. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and it is problematic even at very low levels, as it accumulates in the body. Lead is stored in various tissues, including the kidneys, liver, brain, and in bones and teeth. During pregnancy, lead in the mother’s bones can be released into the bloodstream and enter the blood of the fetus.
Humans interact with many products that contain lead. However, inhalation or ingestion of lead is the most common way that lead gets into the body. Dust from lead-based paint, small lead paint chips, or even touching lead paint and then licking your fingers at a later point in time poses a risk. Infants and children routinely put their fingers and objects in their mouths, which is why lead paint removal is so critical for safety.
Effects of Lead
Exposure to lead can cause a range of health effects, from minor symptoms like headaches and fatigue to more serious issues such as anemia, kidney damage, and neurological problems. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, as it can interfere with the development of the brain and nervous system. In children, the effects of lead can include learning difficulties, lower IQs, kidney problems, hypertension, behavior problems, and overall decreased cognitive abilities. In adults, lead exposure also produces the same effects but also adds reproductive problems and an increased risk of neurological problems. Lead poisoning can also be fatal if left untreated.
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from the health hazards of lead exposure. These include testing your home for lead, practicing good hygiene to avoid ingesting or inhaling lead particles, and using lead-safe work practices when renovating or remodeling your home. If you suspect you or your child may have been exposed to lead, seek medical attention right away.
Lead is a dangerous substance that can have serious health consequences, especially for children and pregnant women. By understanding what lead is, how it can harm us, and how to protect ourselves from exposure, we can take steps to ensure our homes and communities are safe from this toxic metal.
Before doing any renovations on an older home, or if you have any concerns about lead paint in your home or business in Loveland or Fort Collins, CO, call 970-402-1036 and talk to the lead remediation specialists at Aqua Restoration.
