Q: I’m renovating a house that was built in 1965, and I have heard that older homes can contain hazardous toxins. Anything I should know about?
A: If your house was built before 1978, you may expose yourself to lead paints, which weren’t banned until that year. Repairs, sanding, scraping, painting, and removal of materials can release lead, which can cause headaches, nerve disorders, and digestive problems. Things can be even worse for kids; they can suffer from learning disabilities and hearing loss, to name just two. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 14 percent of 972 children tested in the state of New York had elevated levels of lead in their blood during home renovations. To play it safe, get your contractor to do an X-ray fluorescence test to detect lead ― and then have an expert remove what’s found. Prior to removal, expect him to seal work areas with plastic and duct tape. You will also need to turn off any air-conditioning or heating units and not eat or drink anything nearby.
Email your questions for Dr. Bob Arnot to dr.bob@mensjournal.com.
This article originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of Men’s Journal.
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August 12th, 2009 at 4:08 am
This was the same question was running on my mind. Actually i was also thinking of renovating my old house that was build in around 1970. So from my concern this is a great blog.
Thanks
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November 25th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Through you for details. It helped me in my task
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