Lead Poisoning and the Effects It Has on Humans and the Environment

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The process of removing lead paint is not as simple as one thinks. It isn’t a process where you can just paint over the old paint. It has to be done accurately and by a professional. Some methods of lead paint removal include encapsulation, enclosure, and removal. The enclosure method is where the old surface is covered with the new one. Some ways include putting up a new drywall or covering the walls with aluminum or vinyl cladding. This typically is more labor intensive since there is an extra layer of wall being made.

Another option would be to remove it completely. Removal. A professional would have to take paint remover and while heating up the paint, scrape the paint off. Most contractors use electric sanders to help speed up the process and utilize high efficiency particulate air filtered vacuums. Your contractor may opt to wet sand surfaces, and must use an electric sander equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum. Another option is stripping off paint with a low-temperature heat gun, and hand scraping. However, the least complicated and most affordable method is encapsulation, This method involves brushing or rolling on a specially made paint-like coating that creates a watertight bond and seals in the lead-based paint. Encapsulation products start at about $35 per gallon. Expect to pay $600 to $1,000 to cover surfaces in a 1,200- to 2,000-sq. ft. home (not including labor) (Walker, 2011). With these high cost, often times work cannot be done on homes in low income families. Replacing paint is often a last priority and I would have to agree with that statement.

Some policy solution includes raising awareness and money while using the laws already in place to help eradicate lead poisoning. A policy can be put into place to provide communities with strategies to develop and implement policies to decrease environmental hazards in the home. It would also benefit Philadelphia to collaborate with higher education institutions such as colleges and other non profit corporations to research, support open houses, give seminars, help environmental laws get passed, and set trends to help future generations.

In conclusion, lead poisoning is dangerous and often overlooked. It effects adults by slowing down memory systems and causing physical disabilities. Lead poisoning effects children even more and can lead to underdeveloped during infant years and can effect the growth as the child gets older. For example, lead poisoning can lead to stunted growth, ADHD, nervous system disabilities, learning disabilities etc. It if important to be conscious and aware for our future generations and to lower the number of effected children in low income homes.

References

GOULD, E. (2009, July 1). Childhood Lead Poisoning: Conservative Estimates of the Social and Economic Bene ts of Lead Hazard Control. Retrieved December 9, 2015, from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/117/7/ehp.0800408.pdf

Lead. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://www.phmc.org/site/programs/environmental-health/lead

Walker, J. (2011, March 25). Lead Paint Removal: Options and Costs. Retrieved December 8, 2015, from http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/painting/lead-paint-removal/

Neuropsychological Effects of Lead Poisoning. (2015). Retrieved December 5, 2015, from http://www.mwph.org/programs/lead-treatment/effects

Hilgenkamp, K. (2011). Air. In Environmental health: Ecological perspective. (p. 135). S.l.: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Lead poisoning and health. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/Philadelphia Department of Public Health Guide for Clinicians: Preventing Lead Poisoning of Children. (2003, May 1). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.phila.gov/health/pdfs/GuideforClinicians7_8_13.pdf

(2015, October 26). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

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