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SAFETY ALERT! . . .

New Source of Lead Poisoning Identified!

(Reprinted from the June 1995 issue of the " Refinisher's News " )

Each day, children bathe in it, play in it and are washed carefully

in it. Yet, according to a special report on the April 19, 1995

edition of Good Morning America, porcelain bathtubs are one of the

America's most unexpected sources of lead exposure for children.

Lead poisoning is currently considered the number one environmental

health danger for children by the Centers for Disease Control.

The nationally televised report cited a study of over 600 tubs

conducted by Unique Refinishers of Atlanta, GA. The study found that

approximately 64 percent of the tubs tested had leachable lead on

the surface. The tested tubs were of varying age and came from a

wide range of domestic and import companies.

Good Morning America's report focused on the family from a

small town in Massachusetts. In spite of their efforts to identify

and eliminate lead exposure in their home, their two children

continued to have very high blood lead levels, requiring continuing

medical treatments. The older child had a blood lead level of 47

micrograms per deciliter, while the second child (age 7 months)

showed a level greater than 20 micrograms per deciliter.

Aside from negligible lead in the household dust, the only source of

lead that could be identified in the children's environment at the

time was the lead-based paint in their home. Even though it was not

peeling, they spent over $15,000 to have it professionally removed.

Away from home during the abatement process (2 months), the

children's blood lead levels decreased to nearly normal levels (1 to

9 micrograms per deciliter). Within a week after moving back into

the now lead-free and lead safe home, both children again showed

significant elevated blood lead levels.

The family then purchased a home lead test kit called LeadCheck

Swabs to test their ceramic ware. When her dishes tested negative

for lead, Mrs. then used a LeadCheck Swab on the bathtub -

the only remaining item in the house not yet tested for lead. The

swab immediately turned pink, indicating the tub was leaching

dangerous levels of lead. Every time the children bathed in the tub

and played with their toys, they ingested lead simply by touching

the tub and putting their wet fingers and toys in their mouths. The

children ceased using the tub for their baths and within a few

months their blood lead levels returned to nearly 10 micrograms per

deciliter.

When she first tested the bathtub, immediately

called the LeadCheck Information Hotline to ask questions. The

company was surprised by this potential lead source, and sent its

top R & D specialist to investigate. Numerous follow-up tests

confirmed the initial finding - the bathtub was the problem

" When Mrs. called our information hotline, we couldn't

believe that bathtubs could leach lead, " says Dr. Marcia Stone,

president of HybriVet Systems, Inc. and inventor of LeadCheck

Swabs. " Unfortunately, it's true, and thousands of children are at

risk. "

Continued testing of this and other bathtubs has confirmed the

presence of leachable lead in porcelain bathroom fixtures. A baby

wipe rubbed on the bottom of a tub picked up over 1000 micrograms of

lead. Hands rubbed along the side of a LeadCheck positive tub were

shown to pick up significant amounts of lead. Bath water allowed to

sit in LeadCheck positive tubs leaches lead in amounts exceeding 50

parts per billion. Washcloths soaked in bath water and rubbed on the

bottom of the tub concentrated significant amounts of lead.

Unique Refinishers has now surveyed more than 750 bathtubs and found

that, overall, 62% of all porcelain tubs tested positive with

LeadCheck Swabs. Specifically, 77% of the cast iron tubs and 25% of

the steel tubs tested positive. This source of lead most likely

represents a significant exposure to only very young children with

their high level of hand to mouth activity and propensity to " drink "

the water during bath time.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 57

million U.S. homes have dangerously high lead levels. While bathtubs

are a newly identified source of lead, other sources include

deteriorating lead paint, water, plumbing, dust and ceramics, to

name a few. According to Stone, the best solution is for the public

to empower itself with information on the problem.

What is the solution to the lead problem? Unique Refinishers has

confirmed that refinishing LeadCheck positive tubs eliminates the

leaching of lead by encapsulating the tub. The implications for the

Refinisher are obvious. After spending over $15,000 on lead

abatement, found that she could have prevented the

problem by simply having the tub refinished for only a few hundred

dollars. You need to empower your customers by giving them the

benefit of the ' experience. Carry a supply of LeadCheck Swabs

and test every porcelain tub and sink you encounter. If there is a

possibility of lead exposure, you can demonstrate it on the spot.

And what about you? Do you need to protect yourself from lead

exposure during the refinishing process? If you are following the

proper safety procedures you normally use (and we would be

disappointed to find that you aren't) to protect yourself from the

other hazards of refinishing, you are protected. You should avoid

breathing sanding dust or, better yet, wet sand to prevent dust in

the first place. You should always wear coveralls and latex or

rubber gloves during surface preparation and spraying. And finally,

we hope that your level of hand to mouth activity is not that of a

one-year old; but, if it is, please wash your hands before you stick

them in your mouth. And stop drinking the bath water!

*******************************

*** I want to add that our DAN! Dr. has been treating an entire

family for lead poisoning, their bathtub being the source of

exposure. All of the family members shower, rather than bathe in the

tub. According to the article, only young children seem to be at

risk due to drinking the water or mouthing toys that have had

contact with the surface. Apparently that's not true.

If you have an older porcelain tub, PLEASE check it for lead!

Take Care,

-Trish

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