If you have ever wondered whether the old building you live in has lead-containing paint, then this blog is for you. While laws that restricted lead in paint did come into effect in Canada in 1976, lead continued to be found in paint for many years after that. Also, old buildings may have paint containing lead that has remained untouched.
There are some indications that paint may contain lead. One is based on the age of the building. Any building built before 1976 is a strong candidate. Even if the building has been repainted multiple times, there may still be lead in underlying layers.
Sometimes you can get a hint about lead by a paint layer’s appearance. “Alligatoring” or crackling is commonly seen in old lead paint. Sometimes you may see a chalky appearance on the paint.
The only way to know for sure if paint contains lead is to test it, really test it in an analytical chemistry laboratory. We do not recommend cheap tests that you can buy in a big box store. These tests are not precise and not accurate.
Testing in a laboratory always has and always will be the gold standard. And if you do have lead paint, then you will need hazardous material abatement performed by professionals. Children are famous for eating lead paint that is flaking off, and the medical consequences can be devastating.
If you live or work in an old building, get professionals to test the paint. Lead paint is no joke, and that is why it remains a serious worldwide health problem.
Enviro-Vac is one of the oldest privately owned environmental contractors in Canada. They offer full suite of services in hazardous materials abatement and decontamination including shrink- wrap containments and are available to work both small and large- scale projects across Canada. The head office is based in Surrey, BC.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about hazardous materials abatement, decontamination or shrink-wrap solutions, please call us on our toll-free number, (888) 296-2499.
