To ask for advice from builders or decorators please? Possible lead poisoning!

[Celestia26]

Posting for traffic as I am getting myself in a bit of a state!

I was given an old unit by a friend, and the paint was flaking off.

I planned to sand it and paint it. However, given that she didn't know how old it was I bought a lead testing kit just to be safe.

I did the test and it was negative. So I started sanding it outside using a mask.

I was on a website looking for tips on renovating old furniture and they discussed lead testing. After reading the article I started panicking that I might have performed the test wrong, so I used the spare one and did it again.

Positive for lead. I am freaking out! I sanded it in the garden where my children play. I have cleaned up as best I can. Now I am worried my children will get lead poisoning.

My husband thinks I am over reacting. But I am wondering whether I should ask my doctor for a lead test? They'll think I'm mad!

Any advice on what I can possibly do to minimise the damage? I feel like such a fool 😔

It’s lead, not asbestos. You sanded it outside with a mask. You have cleaned up. Nothing is going to happen.

Lead poisoning is only an issue over years of exposure.

Thanks, I only sanded a little bit, and it was outside, so hopefully OK.

lead poisoning is a higher risk for acute issues than asbestos! Previous posters clearly know nothing about it.

I'm sorry but I would take this risk to your children's health seriously. Make sure you have done anything you can to remove the paint debris from their space. You could now test the ground for contamination in order to find out if its at a level higher than that permitted by the HSE. If it is, you basically remove the soil and get new in. Keep an eye on the children for signs of lead poisoning. If you think they already may have consumed lead then getting a blood level test would be reasonable. If you don't think that has happened then I;d keep a look out for symptoms instead.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/lead.htm

Have a look at this, OP. Note the phrasing and meaning of 'significant' exposure.

HTH.

The problem with HSE advice like that posted below is it is geared at adult workers.

What children do is eating things they pick up and find. Adults don't do this, so the precautions and definitions in that link assume a different set of exposure methods to those you need to be worried about with children.

Also, children absorb lead more readily than adults (factor of 2), and they are more susceptible to the damage it does in terms of delayed development etc.

If I had done what you've done OP, I would probably skim off the top soil and replace. Otherwise it might be leaching elsewhere in the garden.

If you grow and food in your garden, its also worth considering if that might be contaminated also.

Thanks for the advice. I sanded it on the patio which has been hosed down. All the water went into the man hole which I know isn't great but it had no where else to go.

We are going to replace the soil too just to be safe.

I have arranged a blood test with my doctor. If I have high levels they will go ahead and test the children. They said without symptoms they don't want to put my children through the trauma of taking blood, but if my levels are high (I had most exposure) then they will test them.

Hopefully all this will be enough.

I rather think all that will be massive overkill!

What soil are you going to replace if you sanded it on the patio? The whole garden? To what depth? And what about the neighbours' gardens? If there's only a fence between your patio and their garden, maybe some contamination spread there, under the fence or through the soil. 😉

Seriously, it sounds like you took sensible precautions already. I'd try to forget it and move on if I were you.

I the kindest possible way, I would suggest speaking to your doctor about anxiety. The reaction to this is grossly disproportionate to what has happened.
The risk is very, very low and it is extremely unlikely any harm whatsoever has occurred.

I don't think I would consider testing an old unit for lead, wouldn't really cross my mind. Sounds to me like you have been very careful so hopefully everything is ok.

Replacing the topsoil because you sanded a bit of an old unit?

Jesus. You need a grip, and quick.

I used to be a soil tester, and believe me, sanding a bit of an old unit is negligible compared to to what is in all soils.

The doctor I spoke to was very helpful when I explained what had happened. He is from a country where lead poisoning is taken quite seriously, and he said in his opinion it is not taken seriously enough in the UK. He suggested the blood test, and said he wouldn't do it unless he thought it was necessary.

It probably is overkill, I agree. If it was just me, then I wouldn't be so bothered. However, I have a 3 year old, and lead can affect them quite a lot more severely than adults. It's not like I'm in A and E demanding tests and chelation therapy.