Serious Q: Lead in Apartments @ Cal

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Many apartments in old buildings are available for rent at Cal. Most were built before the 1970s, meaning that was before legislation against lead-paint was passed. That means there might still be lead in some apartments at Cal, because of the lead-paint used. </p>

<p>Exposure to lead is a serious issue; studies have shown that an IQ decrease of 2–4 points is expected for each increase of μg/dL in lead concentration in the bloodstream. Worse, the decrease in IQ is a lasting effect, meaning lead even in minute amounts, causes permanent brain damage. </p>

<p>Is there a way to verify whether or not the apartment is lead-free, if it was built before the 1970s? I know you can ask the landlord, but what if they are lying?</p>

<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2

<p>As long as you don’t eat paint, I don’t think you need to worry.</p>

3

<p>On the contrary my friend:</p>

<p>“Lead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows a lead object or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can stay in the body and cause serious health problems.”</p>

<p>[Lead</a> Poisoning - Symptoms, Emergency, What to Do - NY Times Health Information](<a href=“Well - The New York Times”>Well - The New York Times)</p>

4

<p>Don’t sand the paint and you won’t have dust or a problem.</p>

<p>Lead paint was only a problem for children cause they would chew on the rails and sills, not cause they slept in the room with it. Besides, the lead paint was certainly painted over (and probably over again) since way back then which is how it was rectified.</p>

5

<p>If you’re living an apartment with lead paint (very likely has been painted over many many times), where do you find lead dust to breathe in?</p>

<p>I would worry more about from radiation from cell phones.</p>

6

<p>It is the duty of the landlord to notify the tenant about lead paint in the apartment. If he doesn’t you can sue.</p>