Ceiling and Lead Dust Vacuuming

What is Lead?

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Lead is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. Lead poisoning is a serious and sometimes fatal. Lead poisoning usually occurs over a period of months or years, as the lead accumulates in the body and the damage done by lead poisoning cannot be reversed. 

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Why is Lead Dust Removal So Important?

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Studies have shown that pregnant women and young children are especially vulnerable. For pregnant women the placenta has no barrier to protect the unborn child from the lead poisoning that has accumulated in the mothers blood causing the unborn child to have no protection from the toxic lead. Lead has short- and long-term effects on children causing learning difficulties, hearing loss, stunted growth and behavioural issues. Since a child’s brain is still developing, lead can lead to intellectual disability. For adults lead poisoning can cause joint and muscle pain, high blood pressure, infertility, memory loss, nerve damage, seizures, comas and even death. 

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Where Does Lead Come From and How Does it Accumulate?

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Because Lead is cheap and useful for many building applications, it is found in a variety products and places in the construction environment. Lead if often found throughout your ceiling cavity. Toxic Lead Dust can build up from sources including nearby industrial pollution, exhaust from cars, fumes from burning wood or coal, renovations in your home or neighbouring buildings. It also accumulates from the breakdown of paint. Lead dust can find its way into your living areas through ventilation fans, light fittings, ducts and poorly fitted ceilings. Therefor it is important to remove the toxic lead dust from your ceiling.