Lead Poisoning from Renovations Can Strike, Even When You Are Trying to Do the Right Thing

State expert: ‘Not doing enough’ to eliminate lead poisoning

By: NAOMI SCHALIT ©MAINE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING

Photo: Naomi Schalit

Marisa Nadeau and her two youngest boys, James (left) and Joshua

Part two of four

In 2009, Marisa Nadeau and her young children moved into an apartment connected to the 200-year-old Hallowell home owned by Nadeau’s parents. The parents were renovating the rest of the old Federal house, but were meticulous about the work so Nadeau’s children wouldn’t be exposed to toxic dust from the centuries of lead paint on the walls.

“They cleaned up really good,” said Nadeau, even using a special lead-blocking paint over the old paint.

“But even still, any little sanding you do, it tracked right in, on peoples’ shoes, tools, whatever was brought through” the building, exposing her two boys to lead dust. They were diagnosed with lead poisoning after testing by a pediatrician who recognized that living in such an old house posed a special risk to the kids.

Read the entire article here