Lead paint crack

Paint becoming brittle with age, failing to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Note: A more uncommon version of paint cracking is mud cracking, which is when paint cracks when drying due to too-thick application or extremely dry painting conditions. If cracking does not go down to the substrate: Remove the loose or flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush, sand the area to feather the edges, prime any bare spots, and repaint the surface.

If cracking goes down to the substrate: Remove as much of the existing paint as possible. Methods for removal could include scraping, sanding, using a heat gun, abrasive blasting, etc. Once most of the paint is removed and surface is smooth and even, prime, and repaint with a quality latex paint. Take care prepping surfaces before painting: Only apply paint to surfaces that have been properly sanded, cleaned, and primed.

Never paint over cracked paint. The best way to tell if your child has been exposed is with a blood lead test. Your health care provider can help you decide whether a blood lead test is needed and can also recommend appropriate follow-up actions if your child has been exposed. As levels of lead in the blood increase, adverse effects from lead may also increase. The Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD external icon enforces lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and technical assistance, and conducts technical studies to help protect children and their families from lead hazards in the home.

HUD also supports state and local governments to develop cost-effective ways to reduce lead-based paint hazards. Watch this EPA video about safely renovating when there is lead-based paint in your home. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Prior to the s, lead was commonly added to paints to accelerate the drying process, maintain durability, and add moisture resistance.

It was a cheap, effective way to manufacture paint. In the United States, lead was banned from inclusion in household paints in due to the serious health risks associated with its use. Children are at increased risk for lead poisoning, through ingestion from several sources.

They have a tendency to chew on lead-painted surfaces. These may include door edges, window sills, built-in shelving, and even some toys.

Lead paint chips and dust can coat their sticky fingers as they play on the ground and subsequently put those fingers in their mouths. Both children and adults are most at risk when lead paint peels, cracks, chips, or deteriorates over time and produces lead dust.

When lead dust particles are inhaled, they can lead to serious and sometimes fatal health problems. Symptoms include the following:.

In fact, the CDC estimates that approximately 24 million homes in the United States currently contain serious lead-based paint hazards.