Moms dealing with elevated lead levels - Page 30

[alacrity]

He put us on a list to have the city fix it which can take up to a year. I am not even sure if we are on the list yet. He said there was paperwork to do. So who knows. But even if we are on the list nothing will be fixed until sometime next year.

Of course, he did not show up to day AGAIN to paint over the chipping paint. I am not even sure if it is okay for him to paint over it but he will not pay someone to paint over it and the city will not force him to since he is supposedly cooperating to get us on this list.

so i am stuck here and in the meantime every time we walk through my doorway we are probably tracking in invisible lead dust on our feet and it rubs when i open and close the door too. I have no way of knowing how bad it is and the wait time is killing me.

[staceychev]

Alacrity,

I'd keep on him to paint it because it's better than nothing as you wait for the city to come in. Then, I'd keep on him big time about getting the city in.

I don't know what your apartment is like, but is there a little bit of open space, or a front hall where you come in? I'd mark off a small space as a lead zone: Put a shoe rack there for taking shoes off when you come in the house. Look up whether or not a door mat inside is a good idea. And be extra vigilant about vacuuming with a HEPA vac if you can afford it and mopping with at least two buckets if not three so that you're not just dragging wet lead-dust-water as you mop. I'd also only use that mop water for your marked off section.

FWIW, we got our HEPA vac (an Electrolux Oxygen) on Overstock for about 1/2 what it sells for retail. Just make sure you use the HEPA bags because some vacs can do HEPA, but the bags that make it really self-contained are extra money.

[provocativa]

the BEST thing for him to do is paint over the paint, asap. a high bonding primer would be great. then clean the surrounding floors and walls several times. as for the city, you could try calling other agencies- like if you called tenant services, then call the health department. funding here in the local health dept. for lead is around some years, sometimes not- depends on if anyone on staff is qualified and applies for a federal grant (which they would automatically get- if the qualified individual is there). but the state environmental agency is always funded, and that's who does the lead inspections. so here, the state lead inspector could be wrong about the local tenant law easily. at epa.gov you can find information to have sent to your landlord. has the apt. been inspected by the building code enforcement people, or just lead paint people? if there were other hazards in the apt it might get you out of your lease. there is a national law about the necessity of landlords informing tenants of lead paint. depending on the legal climate there that might get you out of your lease, too. Also, even though it takes a year for the city to go in and do lead abatement, your landlord is probably required to paint over it ALL right away, not next week.

you need extra Ca, Mg, Fe, Se, and Zn along with the vitC. . . small meals throughout the day and frequent breastfeeding help prevent absorbtion.

[alacrity]

I wish I could afford a vacuum with a HEPA filter. i don't even own a vacuum and I just applied for food stamps last week. :/

It has been fully inspected by the city and the lead inspector from the city. I have looked up all the laws and have been in contact with Lead Safe St. Louis several times.

He keeps saying he is coming out every weekend because he can't on weekdays because he works then he no shows every time. Honestly I do not even trust him to do it since he is not even buying the right paint but no one I call is of any help since he has completely complied with their rules so far. He only has to fill out paperwork which he has done. It has been a couple months already and not a darn thing has happened.

I am giving her an iron supplement but not anything else and she eats table food but I guess I need to look up how to get her those other vitamins. She does not eat a whole lot of food.

I also just realized that although I do not open and close my windows my upstairs neighbors do and their windows are right above my porch and lawn and front entryway.

He did not inform me about the lead paint IN FACT he told me that he did not know of any but that everything will be painted over and had been painted over, etc, and that it was safe. Then when I told him the lead inspector found lead paint he started screaming at me "I TOLD YOU THERE WAS LEAD PAINT HERE BEFORE YOU MOVED! YOU KNEW THIS PLACE WAS A HAZARD!" I told him outright he was a liar but it is my word against his. He is getting a fine from the EPA but he does not know it yet but that does nothing for my daughter now. I hate the way this system works. It is so slow.

[alacrity]

My landlord came by to paint over the lead paint that was chipping and dry scraped it all over my front porch and entryway. i have no vacuum and no idea what to do.

[gentlemango]

Porch: buckets of water or a hose, wash it away.
Entry way: wet paper towels or baby wipes, wipe up the flakes, damp mop everything down & throw away the wipes. Wipe it all down again w/ fresh wipes. Damp mop with water and dish detergent. Then damp mop the rest of your floors inside. That will take care of everything.

Level of 4 is not a big deal, but have her tested again ASAP to make sure this isn't causing a big spike. If her level is over 15 the state will get involved and they will take care of all the landlord issues for you.

[alacrity]

I was told it is not okay for me to do any of that if I am nursing her. I super mopped the entire house with towels instead of my mop and threw away the towels. I usually use method stuff but was told I have to use different cleaners for lead. Does anyone know if Spic N Span has the special ingredient? Or is it only Pin Sol?

She has a doctor's appointment (her 1 year) on November 2. Is that too long to wait? I was thinking that would be okay.

I am hoping that the city will give me a HEPA vac ASAP and that I can find someone to vacuum it up.

thanks. I hate lead paint.

[gentlemango]

Call your state lead hazard dept. and ask about borrowing a vacuum. The cleaner you want to use has phosphates, like Dawn dish detergent.

I know it's scary. But you are talking low numbers & a small area of contamination. Clean, take a shower, live your life, don't worry about it.

Nov 2 is fine. A blood lead test is a snapshot of the past 30 days of exposure.

[alacrity]

Originally Posted by gentlemango

I know it's scary. But you are talking low numbers & a small area of contamination. Clean, take a shower, live your life, don't worry about it.

Thank you. I needed to hear that. As ridiculous as it sounds. I just have no one hear to say anything like that to me.

Funny even the people at the lead safe office had no idea what history the lead test shows. that is good to know.

Oh and I called the city and left a message. I have been on the wait list for a HEPA vac for a while. Hopefully it will come soon.

[smeisnotapirate]

Joining. DS (20mo) just tested at an 18 and our FP recommended having Early Intervention and we just called our neighborhood lead prevention hotline to see about grants. We live in an almost 200yo house, so I'm pretty sure WHY his levels are high. We're just really overwhelmed and want to get rid of this paint and get his levels down ASAP.

[staceychev]

I think a typical reaction to a diagnosis of lead poisoning is feeling overwhelmed. That, and guilt. Don't be too hard on yourself.

How long has he been exposed? Is there a developmental reason your FP has seen that would require early intervention? Just asking, because DD was diagnosed with a level of 47 at 14 months, and at age 4.5 is actually pretty much ahead of the curve on all of her milestones.

Hugs, mama. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help... there's a lot of experience and knowledge hanging around this thread.

[smeisnotapirate]

Yeah, definitely dealing with the guilt here, especially DH.

We bought the old house last April. DS's lead levels were fine before that (we have him tested regularly because DH works on pipe organs, with lead pipes). We've been refurbishing the house, and have tried to be really conscious about lead (we only moved into the house in October because we wanted to do as much as possible without living in the house). We've kept DS outside when we were doing work over the summer, and have put down new floors in the kitchen and bathroom and carpeted all the bedrooms. We've been covering all the paint in the house with new paint, but the process is slow.

I guess PA just recommends Early Intervention for anything over 15, so I agreed. DS originally got blood tested because we're suspecting some food allergies, but his abdominal pain could be tagging along with elevated lead levels from what I'm researching.

It's good to hear your DD is normal. That makes me feel a lot better.

Right now, I'm just wondering about how to reduce his lead levels. We're getting on top of the environmental stuff, but I'm wondering if there's specific nutritional or supplement things we should be doing to stay on top of this.

[staceychev]

You definitely want to be maxing out vitamin c, calcium and iron. Other than that, I can't help you, because DD had chemical chelation.

[dollyanna]

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by staceychev

You definitely want to be maxing out vitamin c, calcium and iron. Other than that, I can't help you, because DD had chemical chelation.

Stacey, when you say chemical chelation, do you mean with something like Chemet?

http://www.rxlist.com/chemet-drug.htm

I just wanted to add a resource for people wanting/needing to use DMSA, the chemical in Chemet (it's also available non-prescription). The autism-mercury yahoo group discusses how to use DMSA on their website, it's obviously good for lead, but it also helps with mercury, for those dealing with that--more chronic toxicity than acute for that one.

[staceychev]

Yes, Chemet, exactly, Tanya. That's what my daughter was prescribed.

[bigteamug]

I did post this in Family Safety, but I'm hoping to get a little more info. I do not want to make the wrong decision on this:

We have an old patio out back that we now know to have lead paint - it is not flaking or peeling, just wearing off. The patio has some cracks, but is not in awful shape otherwise.

I had the girls tested last fall (after they played back there for a good chunk during the summer) and it's not awful. - 4.4 for the little one, and "low" for our big girl (better than I hoped for).

But now the warm weather is coming and they want to be outside. One of the local lead testing consultants told me that painting over it and keeping the paint in good repair is good enough....now, first off, that is difficult - it means that we can't have furniture there, or have the girls ride things there, because it will wear the top coat, right?

I guess what I'm wondering is

a)if you painted over it and didn't let them ride toys on it or scratch it, would you be ok with your kids (7 and 3)playing on such a patio?

b)I'm thinking that in the long term, we'll have to demo it (very carefully) and put down a new surface. I did ask a local concrete guy, and in our harsh winter climate, you can't just put a fresh layer on concrete over the top - it won't last. What do y'all think?

Other thoughts?

Thanks!

[provocativa]

Containment is actually a very viable strategy for handling lead paint. You need to look for specific kinds of floor paint, which does not chip or wear easily. You want a color which opposes the one you have, so that any wear is readily apparent. There is also specific concrete paint, which should have decent wear ability. One can also buy products like marine varnish for over the paint- very thick and water resistant (but obviously not designed for concrete). You will want quite a few coats. And then, put sliders on the furniture. I would let them ride toys on it and everything (rubber wheels don't scratch as much as hard plastic), but mop frequently with a phosphate containing cleaner like Spic and Span or Cascade to bond with possible lead- not Dawn liquid dish soap, which does not contain phosphates. You can buy TSP- tri-sodium-phosphate, which is made for lead clean up. Rinse away the phosphate cleaner- phosphates are poisonous to us and the planet.

[alacrity]

HEPA Vacs

Any advice on obtaining a HEPA vacuum that would be helpful with wood and tile floors and also carpets? I have very little to spend. I am a single mom and don't make much babysitting but I would feel better if I had a good vacuum.

They painted over some of the paint in our windows and door casing but it is already coming apart on one area outside. They tested our home and most areas were 20 parts per square foot. Which is half the acceptable amount but higher than I would like it to be.

Any tips?

ETA: If I get a vacuum I have to purchase it online because I do not drive.

[provocativa]

alacrity- Well, it is unlikely you will afford one of the fancy ones mentioned earlier in this thread. I got a factory reconditioned HEPA vac from Big Lots- it works fine - so you might search for such and see if anyone does similar work near you. Shipping will be so costly- so you might look for ship-to-store opportunities or call vacuum repair shops. I live in substandard housing, and I just keep paint and foam brushes ready in my pantry, and touch up all the time.

bigteamug, it occurred to me after posting that you could put down bonding primer, or similar, and then put asphalt tar or similar over it and nothing would get through that. Maybe I don't understand how big the patio is, but couldn't you just do a new layer of concrete every couple years?