Changes to items containing lead
There are a number of items that have contained lead in the past and are now being replaced by less harmful substances. The most common example is pencils, which now contain graphite instead of lead. Secondly, pipes in buildings use to be made of lead (lead pipes) and the paint in houses use to contain lead (lead based paint).
We are slowly finding alternatives for items containing lead, however, we are still discovering items that contain lead where we did not know it was before. For example, lipstick. 33% of lipsticks have harmful amounts of lead.
In conclusion, there are some cases where there is no simple substitution for lead, for example, lead is still used in car batteries.
We are slowly finding alternatives for items containing lead, however, we are still discovering items that contain lead where we did not know it was before. For example, lipstick. 33% of lipsticks have harmful amounts of lead.
In conclusion, there are some cases where there is no simple substitution for lead, for example, lead is still used in car batteries.
How to avoid lead exposure
For a quick solution to avoid lead exposure, simply stay clean and tidy. Clean faucets and water filtration in your home can make a difference in lead exposure. Also, wash any fruits or vegetables before eating them. Washing of the hands is also helpful.
If lead is an ongoing problem you are aware of, the best way to avoid exposure is to simply remove whatever has lead in it. This includes old building pipes, which may be made of lead or copper (both are harmful). As well as paint in old building which may be lead based. In which case you'll need to remove the paint and repaint the walls with less harmful based paints. There are even cases where building have lead based paint that was dealt with by covering it with wallpaper or a less harmful paint. Although this may reduce lead exposure, it does not eliminate it. To assure your safety, you can properly dispose of lead paint using a practice called abatement. This is a way of getting rid of harmful lead based paint. Any licensed contractor will know this practice and can properly dispose of any lead based paints.
If lead is an ongoing problem you are aware of, the best way to avoid exposure is to simply remove whatever has lead in it. This includes old building pipes, which may be made of lead or copper (both are harmful). As well as paint in old building which may be lead based. In which case you'll need to remove the paint and repaint the walls with less harmful based paints. There are even cases where building have lead based paint that was dealt with by covering it with wallpaper or a less harmful paint. Although this may reduce lead exposure, it does not eliminate it. To assure your safety, you can properly dispose of lead paint using a practice called abatement. This is a way of getting rid of harmful lead based paint. Any licensed contractor will know this practice and can properly dispose of any lead based paints.
If you would like to see a training video taken by contractors on "how to test for lead paint" please see the video below. Although the video is not very current, it is still relevant and could serve as a great source of self-information.