Lead in paint leads to trouble

“While house paint containing lead is no longer manufactured in Australia, paints containing high levels of lead were used in many Australian houses prior to 1970.” PROF CHARLES GUEST

GEELONG renovators are risking lead poisoning in their DIY efforts to build dream homes, Victoria’s health chief has warned.

The Department of Health and Human Services this week urged Victorians to prevent exposure to lead paint, which is often uncovered during renovations on older homes.

Statistics reveal instances of lead exposure have almost doubled in the Geelong region over the past year.

Chief Health Officer Charles Guest urged Victorians to take action to prevent exposure to lead in paint.

“Outside of the workplace, almost 30 per cent of Victorians who were notified to DHHS between 2010 and 2016 with high blood-lead levels indicated that they had been exposed to lead-containing paint,” Professor Guest said.

“While house paint containing lead is no longer manufactured in Australia, paints containing high levels of lead were used in many Australian houses prior to 1970. Some automotive and marine paints may also contain lead. As lead paint ages, it flakes and crumbles, creating leadcontaminated dust.

“Removal of lead-based paint, as part of home renovation activities, can also produce dust containing lead. Paint dust can then be inhaled, or some children may eat chips of paint containing lead.”

The warning came during the World Health Organisation’s international lead poisoning prevention week.

Health Department statistics show there have been 22 notified cases of lead exposure (blood lead greater than 5ug/ dL) for the Barwon South West region in 2017 to October 19.

In the same period last year there were 12.

Lead is toxic to many body systems, including the central nervous system and brain, the reproductive system, the kidneys, the cardiovascular system, and the blood and immune systems.

Lead exposure can cause reduced intelligence and attention span, impair learning ability and increase risk of behavioural problems.

Prof Guest suggested anybody painting a house or doing maintenance should take precautions to ensure they did not disturb lead-based paint.

For more information, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ healthyliving/Lead-exposureand-your-health