Old homes are often favored for their designs and solid materials. However, lead paint in these homes is an issue that should be considered.
Louisville entrepreneur, John Cullen, has made efforts towards ensuring home health and neutralizing the issue. He says that lead paint is something that could harm children’s development.
"Millionths of a gram is what it takes to poison a child. It’s very small. Day after day they are slowly dosing themselves with levels of lead that may not rise to a point where you are actually seeing symptoms, but its interrupting that normal brain development that should be happening in young children."
Lead paint was used in American homes up until 1978. Lead dust can accumulate over the years and the normal hand to mouth activity can have an effect on individuals health. Many parts of central and eastern Kentucky are known for having older homes.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says adult exposed to lead paint could suffer from high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, diminished motor skills, fatigue, and memory loss. Cullen’s company, Lockup Lead, has developed a lead-paint-dust tester and a method to neutralize the problem.
"The tester that we make is activated by adding water. It’s in the spray bottle that you can go around and spray any areas where there is cracked or peeling paint, or any concern that there may be lead paint. If it comes into contact with any of that it turns bright red.”
Removing lead paint from a home has been expensive and involves chipping off the paint, which can release even more lead into the air. Cullen said checking for lead paint is important when starting a family or moving into older homes.
Hear more with John Cullen later this week on Eastern Standard, on WEKU.
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