by
Robin Mosman, The LEAD Group
With ceiling dust tested through LEADLINE showing lead levels of up to
20,000 parts per million (ppm) in urban areas, the fact that many people are opening up
ceiling space in their old homes with a variety of renovations underlines the need for
greater awareness of this potential source of significant lead contamination. This is
especially so when the volumes of dust are so great. A professional ceiling dust remover
has reported "more than 200 kg of ceiling dust removed from an inner western suburbs
house... and about 800 kg of dust from a Federation-style home in Petersham." (In
inner Sydney).
Case A, a teacher, contacted LEADLINE after
reading in Sydney’s Child about the dangers of lead in ceiling dust. She and her
husband had been renovating their 100 year old house for the previous 3 months, amongst
other things pulling down a ceiling. She had been concerned that her child had recently
become rather aggressive. She knew of the lead and paint connection, and lead in soil, and
had even had soil tested. However, she had not been aware that lead could be present in
ceiling dust.
On LEADLINE’s advice she had her 2 year old son’s blood lead
level tested. It was 1.4 µmol/L (30 µg/dL). The child’s bedroom was right under the
manhole into the ceiling where - "in the pitched area the dust was knee deep."
The mother’s level was 0.96 µmol/L (20 µg/dL). The father was "too scared to
be tested."
The child and his mother moved out of the house immediately while the
father put his job on hold to work twelve hours a day completing the renovation. After
three months with renovation complete and the house decontaminated, the child’s blood
lead level is down to 20 µg/dL, the mother’s 10 µg/dL.
The next case illustrates the difference that lead-aware house-keeping
can make, even during high lead-risk situations such as ceiling demolition, and underlines
the value of educating parents about the effective action they can take to protect
themselves and their children. This inquirer made a number of calls to LEADLINE to
ascertain exactly what she could do in a situation with limited options, and achieved an
impressive outcome.
Case B made contact with LEADLINE before
commencing renovation as a result of having read the articles on lead in Melbourne’s
Child. She decided to have her children’s blood lead levels tested before the
renovation as a reference point. They were very low at 0.1 µmol/L (2 µg/dL).
She "was particularly careful during the renovations - which lasted only 3 months
- with hand washing." She was meticulous about washing and wiping surfaces. She kept
the children (aged 2.5 and 4 years) away from the area of the house being worked on, and
covered floors and furniture with sheets, which she washed frequently. At the end of the
renovation, the house was cleaned by a cleaner with a HEPA vacuum cleaner who specialises
in cleaning houses for people with allergies. When re-tested at the end of the work, the
children’s blood lead levels were the same as they had been at the beginning.
For safe dust removal see: www.adra.com.au
