Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Yeah, those EPA [censored] won't let my children lick lead, asbestos paint!!
Funny you mentioned lead paint. Years ago I took a class on dealing with and proper handling and disposal of lead paint in renovations and repaint work. It was EPA mandated and all licensed contractors were supposed to take it. Five plus hours, I made the best of it. I asked a few questions and some of the answers were stupid, very stupid. One really stuck out, what do do with the lead paint once it was scraped, and sanded and it came time to empty the EPA approved Hepa Vacuum and "properly dispose" of it. Reply: Put it in a black contractors trash bag, do a "goose neck" twist to close the bag, tape it with duct tape, and place it to the curb for garbage collection. My next question was what happens when the bag gets flung into the garbage truck, rips open and the wind blows the lead paint dust in the faces of the sanitation men, and down the street where kids play? "Sir that is how you properly dispose of it."
We were also instructed to police contractors, in other words rat each other out LOL. If you see a painter working outside and he's sanding paint on an old home call the EPA. OK About a week after I was off on a Monday and went to Captree Boat Basin on Long Island, and the Moon Chaser which runs to Fire Island was docked and being repainted. This is part of the Great South Bay, clam beds, bird sanctuaries, you name it. They were using needle scalers, and grinders to remove peeling paint from the boat while it was tied to the dock, and you could see [censored] floating on the water for at least a 1/4 mile away from the boat. It is an old boat and I was certain the paint had lead. I was fuming, and called the EPA, honest to God they told me didn't have the time or man power to follow up on it. I grabbed a paint chip took it home and later tested it and it tested positive for lead.
Bottom line the class I took was a money making crock of B_S to help fund the EPA. Is lead dangerous? Sure it is. Maybe I'm lucky. I've painted for over 40 years and have been tested for lead exposure many times and my blood always comes back perfect. IMO unless you're eating paint chips like potato chips you don't have much to worry about.