Lead Awareness Training

6 Lead Awareness Leaded paint has been used in many of the buildings on campus. It is most commonly found on exterior surfaces, but has also been identified on original plaster walls and industrial coatings on structural support beams. Lead-based paint was used more often in pre-World War II construction but can be found in buildings built before the 1980s. In 1978, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of lead in residential paint. As a result, most buildings built after 1978 are not typically considered to be a risk for lead contamination from paint. The activities that present the greatest risk for lead exposure include: • demolition • renovation • painting projects (interior and exterior) • plumbing and soldering • firing range activities • window glazing What are the health effects? Lead is recognized as a serious health hazard for anyone who inhales or ingests it. Small lead particles that enter the lungs or digestive tract will be absorbed into the blood stream where the lead becomes a poison. Disturbed lead particles may also settle on your skin, hair, and clothing. Eating, drinking, or smoking without first washing your hands after exposure can deliver additional lead into your system. Once inside your body, lead interferes with the brain, nerves, kidneys and blood- forming systems. When lead levels become high enough, lead can be stored in the bone marrow, where it may be released into the body at a later time. Damage from chronic lead poisoning may be irreversible and acute exposures can be fatal. In adults, symptoms of lead poisoning include: • abdominal pain • digestive problems • headaches • high blood pressure • impotence • kidney damage Learn more with the EPA, Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home. brochure Lead-containing paint on window system

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