Lead in wall paint?

[klmetzger]

We just moved into an apartment and noticed the paint is chipping near the floor in one of the rooms. My 9 month old discovered the chipping before I did and I am quite sure he's ingested some of it. Does any one know if lead is still used in paints here? It is likely it's been a couple of decades since the last paint job of this apartment.

[Mordeth]

I went to B&Q and hombox looking for lead testing kits...they don't have any. I'd assume your best bet is to order one from the states.

[Elegua]

Take him to a pediatrician ASAP if you suspect lead. They can give him a chelating agent of he's ingested a large amount.

[Mucha Man]

It's unlikely to have been a couple decades as few buildings are that old. Ask your landlord when it was painted last and how old the building is. Then call the consumer foundation and find out exactly when lead paint was banned. The weren't using it when I arrived 13 years ago.

[Elegua]

That's interesting because in the past I've seen a lot of lead based paints being used. Not so much anymore.

Better safe than sorry. When I moved back to the US the pediatrician at CHOPS told me I should test my kids for lead as a large number of children coming to the US from Asia had high level of lead. Why that is: industrial pollution, leaded gas, air pollution from neighboring countries...etc...I have no idea.

[Mucha Man]

That's interesting because in the past I've seen a lot of lead based paints being used. Not so much anymore.

Better safe than sorry. When I moved back to the US the pediatrician at CHOPS told me I should test my kids for lead as a large number of children coming to the US from Asia had high level of lead. Why that is: industrial pollution, leaded gas, air pollution from neighboring countries...etc...I have no idea.

Dust from what I have heard. Lots of it blowing from China. Parents used to be told here not to put their babies on a bare floor unless they had washed it.

[Elegua]

I had heard that, but figured that there were bigger pollution emitters closer to home. Few of the factories I've ever went to in Taiwan had proper environmental controls.

Anyway - test your kid. Better safe than sorry.

[Mordeth]

I think we should all test our kids regardless of whether we've seen them have "direct" exposure or not. Lead retards physical and mental growth. I'll take my son to get tested for lead for his first birthday. He should enjoy that.