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Health & Safety: Venetian Blinds and Lead Poisoning
by Marti Grainder
http://www.fakroblinds.com
Many homeowners are not aware that there are possible
hazards in their Venetian blinds. We are now all fairly
conscious of the many dangers of lead poisoning in paint
and other surfaces, but older venetian blinds were
frequently constructed using lead and so, under certain
conditions, they can create a threat to your health and
safety, if you come into contact with them. However,
you can take steps to avoid problems if you recognize the
signs of venetian blinds that have this poisonous element
in them.
If you have Venetian blinds that have been constructed from
PVC plastic, this PVC may have been stabilized with lead.
If this is the case, you may be exposing yourself and your
family to a potential hazard. What happens is that the
blinds begin to deteriorate over time. If you notice a dusty
build-up on the slats, this dust contains particles of lead,
and they can be transferred to people and animals in many
ways. A breeze may blow the particles into your rooms
causing you and your family to breathe them in; you may
inadvertently rub against the blinds and the have the
particles cling to hair or clothing; everyday housekeeping,
such as dusting or vacuuming the blinds may cause the
particles to become airborne.
When blinds, particularly those which are older, are
showing signs of such build-up, they should be removed and
immediately placed inside of a sealed plastic bag. By
calling the local branch of the Environmental Protection
Agency in your area, steps can be taken to have the blinds
tested in order to determine if they, indeed, contain lead.
If so, you'll be advised of the proper steps to take for
the removal of any similar blinds that are in your home, as
well as the best means for disposing of them.
After removing the blinds, be sure to clean the surrounding
floor carefully. If rugs are in place, vacuum them
thoroughly; otherwise, use a damp mop to clean vinyl and
other types of uncarpeted flooring. Continue by using a
damp cloth or sponge to clean the surfaces of surrounding
areas and have carpeting professionally cleaned.
Small children, under the age of six, are at a very high
risk for lead poisoning and therefore if you have children
or grandchilren this young, you should have the lead
concentrations in their blood measured. There is only one
definitive test for the presence of excessive levels of
lead in the blood. If your medical professional cannot do
such testing, insist that someone be found who can do it.
If, as suggested, the blinds have been tested by the EPA,
bring the paperwork to the child's pediatrician. It doesn't
take much lead to constitute a high concentration, so if
these lead concentrations are high enough, you may need to
have the child or children checked by a specailist.
To remove the old blinds and replace them with newer ones
is usually not enough. The danger continues to exist in
the particles that clining to all of the areas of your home
surrounding the windows. You and your family will continue
to be in danger of lead poisoning if you don't thoroughly
rid the area of all possible contamination. You must take
these steps to erase all traces of the lead from your
environment, especially if there are children in the home.
What a small price for the health of your loved ones.
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