If there’s lead paint under 15-20 layers of not lead paint can it still hurt you?
In: Biology
If it isn’t disturbed then there’s little risk of harm – but if someone in the future wants to redecorate and sands the old paint off then the air will be full of lead paint particles. Not good when inhaled.
Also, paint degrades over time, so the lead may get into the atmosphere in the future anyway, regardless of redecorating.
No, it doesn’t hurt you just by being there. If its exposed though, you can come into contact with it and either ingest residue on your hands or breathe in dust sized particles that break off. Or if small kids start peeling it off and eating it. Small kids will try to eat just about anything.
The biggest threat of lead paint is to young children, yes you can inhale the particles but young children will peel it and eat it because it tastes sweet, like a candy
How much do you know about basic chemistry?
Lead mimics other chemicals, like calcium, but doesnt do the same hob, or fill the same space. When lead shows up where there should have been some calcium, say, on a cell level, it interferes with the body doing normal processes, and/or producing normal things like hornones, enzymes, DNA, proteins,etc, AND it then prevents the body from using hormones, enzymes, etc.
Lead can affect any system in the body. Its hard on muscles, brain and nerves, liver, kidneys, bones, lungs and the digestive system. It damages cells directly and prevents them from doing what they should to make tissues and proteins.
So lead paint bad. But will it make you sick like throwing up or like cancer?
Lead paint does not hurt you. Stomach acid reacting with lead paint and absorbing the lead into your bloodstream and organs and bones is what hurts you.
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