Toddlers lead level is an 8?
Question:My 13 month old had a lead test because our house is over 100 years old, his test came back at a level 8 which is considered normal. My question is should I get my home tested for lead anyway? my father in law is concerned that if we find lead that we won't ever be able to sell our house, personally I am not so concerned about that I am more concerned for my son. I have been told that the lead can be coming from the windows being opened and closed since they are painted, if this is how it is getting in then won't his level increase as the summer goes on? If anyone has experienced this problem or you are a doctor maybe you can give me some advice, thank you in advance for your time.
Answers:
You really should get it tested for lead. It's dangerous to all people, especially babies.
About ten years, a daycare center was shut down in my town because nearly half a dozen or more kids from like 5 and under died mysteriously. It turned out the kids were eating and licking paint chips from the walls - lead paint chips.
It's very sad...
Even if your baby isn't showing systems or isn't sick right now (I suppose level 8 is normal - I have no idea), it doesn't mean he won't get sick in a few years due to lead.
The window thing probably means that when you open/close them, paint chips may be flying off - minusle pieces - but it still causes harm after so long.
I'm sure your little angel is running around by now, but try to keep him away from the walls if you're worry. Don't want him to lick it and get sick.
Don't know how much it would cost to get a test but I would recommend finding more info on it.
Good luck!
I lived in an old house when our kids were little, too. Our pediatrician said the problem is not with lead "dust" being inhaled or eaten (unless you're sanding lead paint off, then bringing your little one into the room) but with chips being eaten. Lead paint apparently tastes faintly sweet, and parents who are vigilant about sugar may turn the kid from naturally occurring sugars in fruits to tasty paint chips, which are sweeter.
Whether you have testing done is up to you, but in a house that old, there's definitely lead paint on wood surfaces (door frames, windows) and probably on walls, too. If it isn't chipping anywhere, you routinely wipe windowsills to remove any dust or teeny chips from frequent opening and closing, and you don't allow your little guy access to painted surfaces when he's unsupervised (placing his crib too near a window, for instance), you should be okay--and not knowingly devalue your property.
Yes, sooner than later
Get it tested. Even if you go to sell, the buyer will (should) have the test done.
The biggest danger is from flaking paint.
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