-Possible lead exposure##UPDATE, It is lead##

[razzberry414]

I haven't posted in ages but I really need someone to help me filter all this because I'm currently a bit of a wreck over it

My family lives in New Orleans(Me, DH, Son 2.5yrs old) we just moved across the street into my parents rental(the front half of a very long style house, we have 2 rooms). They have a horrid landlord and just yesterday a painting crew showed up at 7am and started working without notice. New Orleans is one of the top most lead poisoned cities in the US...especially after Katrina with all the rebuilding(and house sanding/painting)

This house has been sanded and painted 3 times since 1978..

The painter claims he and landlord did a lead test and came back clear(no solid paper proof of this claim yet)

We were pretty calm about it yesterday, not wearing shoes inside, washing feet/hands at back door, only using back door, really not going outside at all until after 6pm. The paint dust is EVERYWHERE outside, btw.

This morning they started sanding on the front door/windows, when I noticed that the dust was coming into the house through various spaces in these ill fitting old windows/doors. I then discovered that the very window we all sleep under has dust all over it, there for our bedding must have had it as well....

What would you do next? My son is napping right now...my instincts tell me to go to the store when he wakes up and by pine sol, paper towels, baby wipes and clean these 2 rooms from top to bottom, doing the correct lead removal steps. I have a hepa vac but not right filter for lead, the other problem is my son will have to be with me while cleaning.


Would you call the Dr now to get a lead retest? His last was at a year old and was a 7, not been retested since.
How quickly would it show exposure that happened a day ago I wonder..
Anything I can do today to help if he has been exposed? I recall vit c, iron and calcium being big ones. It would be so helpful right now for someone to say, do this, this and this in this order, because I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what to do.

sorry this was so dang long, I need to be wordy when I'm freaked out

[sbgrace]

I'd be upset by that.
What I would do is get some vitamin C and do that to bowel tolerance. Vitamin C can inhibit absorption/remove lead. Calcium, iron and the like might prevent absorption but supplementing is only going to help if he's low in those nutrients if I remember right. Vitamin C is your friend. If you don't have some now give him (and yourself) high vitamin C content foods.

Lots of hand washing, especially before eating/preparing food. If the baby has hands/toys in mouth you want to wash those frequently.

Wet dust/wet mop floor (I would use a rag I get rid of).
I would not vacuum given you don't have the right filter. Can you son stay with your parents while you clean.

Can you wash the bedclothes and etc. at your parents or a laundry mat? I don't know if lead survives will in a washer but I would feel better about washing it away from my other clothes.

Can you get a lead tester and test that dust outside yourself? They aren't 100% but around here have seemed to be accurate in detection. Your county health office might test. They won't here unless a child has toxic lead levels but they will where my sister lives for any family with young children.

I would do definitely do a retest with a blood draw instead of finger prick.

[razzberry414]

just wanted to quickly reply and thank Rachelle for posting.
After today I went and got a lead test kit and of course the 2 places I swabbed on the exterior siding that is being sanded and 2 areas in my rooms where I saw the dust coming in tested positive.
It's so late here that no offical office is answering and I have a call into our retired attorny friend...
have to sleep here tonight but hopefully can find somewhere to go to tomorrow and indefinatly. This is heartbreaking...
I am having trouble getting vit C in my son. My neighboor suggested kale smoothies..anything else for this emergency? I'm hoping to get a call into his Ped tomorrow to see if he needs to go to the hospital as she doesn't handle blood in her office. Sorry I'm just typing without thinking, I'm off to put son to sleep.

[sbgrace]

I'm really, really sad and furious for you.

On the vitamin C--can you dissolve it in orange juice or another juice? I read really, really good studies on vitamin C to chelate lead. But it was high dose (at least I think 1000 mg per day in an adult). You should take it too.

[pianojazzgirl]

What about gummy candy vit C? Obviously it'll be more sugar than is ideal, but if vit C is crucial....

Oh mama, I feel terrible that your family has been put in this situation.

Please keep us posted.

[razzberry414]

Originally Posted by sbgrace

I'm really, really sad and furious for you.

On the vitamin C--can you dissolve it in orange juice or another juice? I read really, really good studies on vitamin C to chelate lead. But it was high dose (at least I think 1000 mg per day in an adult). You should take it too.

This morning we got a chewable and some c crystals and had good luck getting them into him. I came across that study and felt some relief. Thanks so much for all your help.

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

What about gummy candy vit C? Obviously it'll be more sugar than is ideal, but if vit C is crucial....

Oh mama, I feel terrible that your family has been put in this situation.

Please keep us posted.

Thank you so much, we finally got some C into him this morning.

Here is an update, this morning my Dad talked to the head painter and showed the positive lead tests. Within the hour the landlord was here, heard the concerns, saw the damage(our entire yard, sidewalks, street is covered in paint) He was shaken, I'm guessing at the realization that he could be sued. The painters have been picking up the big pieces of paint and vacuuming the small stuff, though it isn't the right vac. They aren't sanding with machines this morning only scrapped 2 windows outside so far.
With no notice of work starting, as well as several lies about having already tested the paint 3 times before starting, we should have a good case on our hands. Not sure if we will proceed that way but after nap I'm hoping to head to the hospital for a venous draw and we have a call into a person on buying their travel trailer as temporary housing until we can find another rental. Just want to get my baby out of here!

[Koalamom]

Hugs and sorry you have to go through this.
When looking at real estate, dh wouldn't let me look at any old houses since he never wants to deal with the paint. I hope you don't have to pay for anything at the hospital.

[lovebug]

s mama! what a stressful thing to deal with!!! i truly hope this landlord gets his act together!!! how sad, my heart is breaking for you and i am really really mad that this landlord let it get this far!

your doing the right thing... get your baby out of there and load up on vit c. s again!

[balancedmama]

Make sure you document everything - right now so you don't forget. Save all of your receipts. I hope you have no associated health problems. How frustrating that you were lied to.