Risk of Lead Poisoning in Your Home
Landlords are responsible for providing safe, habitable living conditions for their tenants. Lead poisoning is a serious health concern caused from lead-contaminated dust generated from paint chippings from the walls of older homes. Legally, landlords are required to issue warnings and fully disclose if their property was constructed with lead-based paint so tenants are aware of their possible exposure to unsafe levels.
In 1978, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlawed lead-based paint for use inside homes. Although lead made paint dry faster and last longer, it was discovered that it was hazardous, and caused many drastic, long-term health problems. Roughly eight out of 10 residences in LA County were built before lead paint was made illegal which means a large majority of LA residents are at a possible high risk of lead exposure. Even if a pre-1978 home was renovated or repainted, the sanded-down particles of the original lead paint likely remain inside the property, and mix into the air.
Side Effects.
Lead poisoning is a terrible sickness, and symptoms typically do not begin to show until levels of lead in the body have already reached a dangerous and hard to treat threshold. In some rare cases, high lead exposure can even cause death as unsafe doses can attack one's brain and central nervous system.
Effects on Children.
Although lead poisoning affects all ages, children are disproportionately affected due to the fact they are closer to the ground where particles settle and place more objects contaminated with lead-based dust inside their mouths. According to the LA Times, one out of eleven kids in the United States have unhealthy lead blood levels. The result of lead poisoning for children can cause permanent brain damage, learning difficulties, and developmental delays. High exposure has even resulted in miscarriages of pregnant women.
What Should You do?
When buying or renting a home, to avoid the risk of lead poisoning, ensure that you follow these simple steps.
Ask your landlord what year the home was built to see if it was constructed before 1978.
If the house was built before 1978, make sure that none of the paint on the walls is peeling, or you may want to invest in wallpaper to cover up the possible hazard.
If the property did once have lead-based paint, inquire if it was recently remodeled. If the answer is yes, make sure it was done well, and there are no sanded-down paint particles remaining inside the home.
We are Here to Help
If you or someone you know was unknowingly exposed to an unhealthy amount of lead due to landlord’s negligence, the attorneys at The Tenants Law Firm are here to help you seek rightful compensation. Contact us by filling out our online intake form here and we will promptly get back to you. You deserve to live in a safe housing condition and we are here to fight for your rights.