Many have the misconception that they have nothing to worry about since they have repainted. Unfortunately this is not the case at all. The older the house, there are usually layers of paint on any given wall or trim surface. Painting over these older paints doesn t remove the risk of lead poisoning, it only hides it. Other parents consider lead poisoning an unlikely problem that seldom happens.
Recent estimates tell a different story.
Approximately 890,000 children between age one and five living in the United States have elevated levels of lead in their blood streams. Lead doesn t break down in the environment any more than it does in the body. Adults and children can be exposed to the deadly substance through dirt, dust and even old water pipes. Back when there was no unleaded version of gasoline, lead was spewed forth from vehicles, boats, lawn mowers airplanes and all other engines in their exhaust emissions. This emission lead settled on all available surfaces.