Over half of the homes in Kansas City, Missouri were built before 1978, which means there’s a higher chance they were painted with lead-based paint. Project Lead Safe KC is a grant-funded program that assists Kansas City homeowners by providing lead testing services for homes and products, educating the public about the dangers of lead exposure, and offering repairs to qualified homeowners and renters. Additionally, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program offers lead poisoning tests for children and pregnant mothers.
Rid Your Home of Lead Paint
The city has received a $3 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to reach as many homes as possible. The projected reach is 125 properties but the KCMO Health Department is hoping to stretch the budget to reach more families.
Signs of Lead Paint
- A chipping pattern that has striations (stripes) that make it chip in straight lines and squares is typical of lead paint.
- When lead paint begins to crack, its pattern may appear similar to reptilian scales. This lead paint indicator is called “alligatoring”.
- Lead paint can also create a chalky residue when rubbed off of a surface.
- Lead paint is usually found on window sills, siding, trim, and doors.
- Professional inspectors can utilize X-ray fluorescence technology to positively identify lead paint in your home.
Lead Paint Associated Health Issues
Lead paint can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, organ damage including damage to the kidneys, nervous system, and blood, and delayed speech as well as other complications in children. The risk for these health problems increases if affected individuals live in poverty or have poor nutrition. Also, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has published additional health concerns associated with lead poisoning. These include headaches, tiredness, nausea, irritability, and stomachaches. Poisoning from lead paint has also been associated with seizures and even death in extreme cases.
However, some children exposed to lead display no external symptoms so testing for lead is the safest way to ensure their health if you know that you and your family may have been exposed to lead paint in your home.
Protect Your Children
Kids living in certain zip codes in the Kansas City area are more likely to have high lead levels in their blood. The health department stated that lead levels in children’s blood should not be over 5 micrograms per deciliter. Kids, especially toddlers, are at the highest risk of being exposed to lead paint. Kids that have just started walking need things to hold onto, like window sills and doorways. However, these are places where they may take a rest and begin to suck or chew on the paint, leading to higher exposure than simply touching the same surfaces. Lead paint is particularly dangerous when it becomes damaged or on high-contact surfaces.
In addition to lead poisoning from paint, children can also be exposed to lead through other contaminants. These include lead contamination via dirt outside, toys, jewelry, contaminated food products, and cosmetic products.
It is important to understand your risk specifically when considering the possibility of lead exposure. Homes built prior to 1978 have a higher chance of containing lead paint. In the Kansas City area, homes in the zip codes listed below are more likely to have been constructed utilizing lead paint.
Kansas City Area Zip Codes Most Affected by Lead Paint in Homes:
- 64109
- 64110
- 64123
- 64124
- 64127
- 64128
- 64130
- 64132
- 64134
Test Smartly Labs provides passive toxin exposure testing for individuals including testing for exposure to lead. Lead exposure tests determine the concentration of lead in the bloodstream which is an important indicator of the level of exposure and what treatment options should be considered. Also, screening is available for most major health risks.