What can I do about possible lead paint on my living room floor?

We had to pull up some carpet in our 80 YO house. We completed several rooms without incident, and had very few issues (mainly cosmetic). We got to the final room today, which is a high traffic family room. The carpet was damaged in several places, so as we had in the other rooms, we started at the edges and worked our way into the center. All looked well until we hit the very middle- there is an 8 by 10 spot of painted floor.

Under normal circumstances, I might not be alarmed, but since the house is older, I am very concerned that the paint might contain lead. We have a small child and pets, so the concern is compounded. We have been so careful, and I am absolutely heartsick that we may have put our child in any sort of danger.

It is Sunday, and I need a game plan. Can anyone give me some short term (and long term) suggestions? Money is really tight, so the more we can do ourselves, the better, but I will find the money if we need to do something to make it safe for our family.

Answers:
Your child is not at necessarily at risk even if it is lead-based paint (LBP). Only if there is paint dust that they have ingested.

A very few children eat paint chips. They are either exceedingly hungry or bored, have a psych issue and/or have come to like the slightly sweet taste.

Impact surfaces (door and window frames and double-hung window casements) are the big sources of LBP dust. Less so with floors. Wet mop up any dust, don't sweep/disturb it while dry.

Get a LBP test kit from a better paint store, about $15 for four tests. If it comes back positive, re-post with more specifics. But if you re-carpet, the exposure pathway goes away. Or cover with linoleum, Pergo, etc.

1-2 year olds are at greatest risk. Brains are developing quickly from 0 to 5 and that is what is disrupted by lead exposure. <1 and they are babes in arms. >2 and they walk mostly. But 1-2 they are on the floor and everything goes hand-to-mouth. Keeping the floor dusted can reduce exposure (and blood lead levels) by 10 fold.

Lead exposure doesn't effect only poor children, but they are at greater risk due to typically less dusting and housekeeping being performed and the possibly lack of calcium in their diets which increases the uptake of any lead they ingest.

Paint used before 1950 can have high lead levels, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows and trim. Paint from 1950 to 1978 can also have lead, but typically at lower levels.

-David

Other answers:
tell you kids to eat it.
tell you kids to eat it.
Try this site for some help. I understand. We have kids and an old house too.

what is the size of a number 5 reinforcing bar?
  • "http://www.hud.gov/improvements?
  • Why doesn't my bread maker paddle turn?
  • Any good uses for baking soda?
  • my table fan cannot working?
  • What can I do about cracked driveway?
  • washing machine pin?
  • Is a black hot tar roof for a house in Buffalo, NY a good idea, or for anywhere for that matter?
  • How long does it pocket to hold a seepage fixed within your federal nouns section and refill next to freon?