LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDS: CONSIDERATIONS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTY MANAGERS, PART I

By Martha Raymond, Department Head, Technical and Review Services, Ohio Historic Preservation Office

Local History Notebook, November / December 1996

Recent lead poisoning research and changes in public policy have increased knowledge and awareness of hazards associated with lead-based paint. Because lead-based paint is common in older buildings, it is important that those involved with the care and management of historic properties be aware of the potential hazards.

At one time, lead poisoning was commonly associated with children eating chips of paint. Now, it is known that dust containing lead paint particles is a serious and prevalent health hazard. The every-day act of opening and closing a window can create a hazard if the friction surfaces contain lead-based paint, because lead-contaminated particles are abraded and collect in the window well and on other surfaces accessible to children, whose health and development can be permanently harmed by lead poisoning.

Not all historic properties contain lead-based paint, but the earlier the construction date, the more likely lead is present and in higher concentrations. Prior to World War II, lead was commonly used in paints as a hiding agent, rust inhibitor, and color additive on wood or metal surfaces such as clapboards, shingles, trim, mantels, shutters, doors, staircases, furniture, and even children's toys. After the war, the use of lead in paints was reduced but was still an ingredient in some paints. In 1977, the United States federal government banned the use of lead in household paint.

Effects of Lead Poisoning

The hazards associated with lead-based paints are an urgent public health issue. Many people are faced with irreversible mental and physical damage because of the exposure to lead in their homes. The four major sources of lead in homes are paint, drinking water, soil, and dust, with the last being the most hazardous form of lead. The lead dust gets into the air either by abrasion of painted surface during paint removal, through the opening and closing of windows as noted above, or from the peeling of painted surfaces. It is absorbed into the body through the skin, or can be ingested through the mouth and nose when the painted surface breaks down.

Children are most threatened by lead poisoning as their systems are more susceptible to the damaging effects of lead poisoning and their symptoms are not easily or accurately diagnosable. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites childhood lead poisoning as "the number one environmental health hazard facing American children." Symptoms such as tiredness, abdominal pain, vomiting, colic, and anemia are similar to common childhood illnesses and tend to be misdiagnosed. Some of the results of the lead poisoning in children may be learning disabilities, behavior problems, attention deficit problems, and insomnia. The most common symptoms of lead poisoning in adults are liver and kidney damage, reproductive and cardiac problems, and hypertension. Among adults, pregnant women and fetuses are particularly susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning.

Planning for Lead Hazard Control

Rehabilitation and restoration work, routine maintenance, and cleaning practices are all aspects of the management of a historic property that require special attention when lead-based paint is present. Particularly when planning rehabilitation or restoration work, it is advisable to test to see whether painted surfaces contain enough lead to be considered hazardous, thus requiring special treatment. This is known as a "risk assessment," and should be done by a qualified inspector or laboratory. If the tests indicate a lead hazard, then consideration should be given to reduction of the hazard through interim solutions or abatement of the lead-based paint. Test results should be interpreted carefully to determine if the presence of lead constitutes a lead hazard.

Historic property managers should pair the lead-paint risk assessment with an evaluation of significant historic features of the property. A lead hazard-control plan should be developed that takes into account historic significance, as well as occupant protection, feasibility, and financing. When establishing priorities for intervention, determine which features will require the greatest attention. Give priority to control measures that will not damage or destroy architectural features and finishes; the least invasive treatment should be considered first for historic buildings. Knowledge of the risks, treatments, significance, and current legislation is necessary in making wise decisions about lead hazard reduction when renovating your property.

Lead hazards are defined as conditions that cause an exposure to lead, such as lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated paint that is deteriorated or present on accessible, friction, or impact surfaces, or bare, lead-contaminated soil. It is important to note that intact lead-based paint on most walls and ceilings is not considered a hazard. However, maintenance is essential wherever lead-based paint is present, to ensure that surfaces do not deteriorate and create a hazard.

Lead hazards are increased during rehabilitation projects, a time when there is a particularly high level of lead dust present in the air. Some of the more common activities that increase the level of lead dust in the air are dry-sanding floors, dry-sanding paint prior to repainting, dry-scraping loose paint, using a heat gun and dry-sweeping the residue, plaster demolition, drilling through painted surfaces. Paint removal practices are of particular concern.

Proceed with Caution when Removing Paint

Processes commonly used for the removal of paint, lead-based or otherwise, can cause lead hazards. These include:

1. Mechanical Removal: This method is generally not a recommended method for lead-based paint removal. Scraping generates chips and dry-sanding produces lead dust, which can spread all over the house. However, the use of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) equipped sanders may be used; they collect lead dust instantly and are an appealing alternative to conventional sanders.

However, sanders are not the most efficient technique to use when the level of interior detailing is high. Water blasting and grit blasting should never be used, as it can scatter paint chips and dust, as well as damage historic building materials.

2. Heat Removal: Removal by torches is dangerous and never acceptable on an older building because of the risk of fires. Heat guns are only recommended for lead-painted surfaces when workers are fully outfitted with a respirator and proper protective clothing, because even at low temperatures heat guns can create hazardous lead fumes.

3. Chemical Removal: Chemical removal involves the use of paint strippers. These may contain solvent-based chemicals or caustics like sodium or potassium hydroxide. Except for methylene chloride, the former can be appropriate for use on older buildings as it does not harm the wood. However, solvent-based chemicals are highly carcinogenic and require the use of protective clothing during application. The latter, though not carcinogenic, has been known to pit wood surfaces and raise the wood grain. Off-site, cold tank dipping may be used for easily removable components like doors, windows and staircase components. However, dipping is not advisable for fixed elements such as trim where removal may damage the feature.

Sources

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued its Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing. The guidelines include a chapter on "Lead Hazard Control and Historic Preservation." The National Park Service has published Preservation Brief #37: "Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing". It is important to note that the publications recognize that the creation of lead-safe environments for children and the protection of historically significant properties are both important national objectives.

The Center for Safety in the Arts publishes information about safety hazards associated with lead used in art and conservation practices. Some activities, such as stained-glass making and repair, ceramics, photo development, and some printing techniques, can cause exposure to lead. Those involved with museum or site programming at a historic property should be aware of these hazards. Further information on health hazards in the conservation field, hobbies, and art-related activities, contact the Center for Safety in the Arts, Information Center of the Center for Safety in the Arts, 5 Beekman Street, Suite 820, New York, New York 10038, Telephone: 212-227-6220. For more information about lead-based paint hazards contact:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Job Safety and Health: (202) 219-8151

National Lead Information Center Clearinghouse: (800) 424-5323

Ohio Department of Health, State Lead Program Contact: (614) 466-1450, 246 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43266-0588

Ohio Historic Preservation Office: (614) 297-2470, 567 East Hudson Street, Columbus, OH 43211-1030

The Local History Notebook is edited and published by the Ohio Historical Society's Local History Office in order to bring useful information to people working in the local history field. The selection of subjects and authors is based on the OAHSM Editorial Board's and the Local History Office's determination of issues which are timely in nature and lasting in scope. The reprints are copyrighted 1996 by the Ohio Historical Society. Reprints are available individually or as complete sets. For further information, contact:

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