Where is Lead found?

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Why is Lead in paint?

Lead was used in paint to help speed up the drying process but also for visual properties. It also increased the durability of paint once applied.

 

Why test for Lead in paint?

 

The body can absorb lead that is breathed in, such as in the form of dust or fumes and if you swallow anything containing lead.

Exposure can lead to changes in your blood which may cause anaemia and it can have effects on your nervous system and kidneys.

 

Who should test?

Those at the highest risk of exposure are those that carry out industrial processes such as blast/burning removal of lead paint, lead smelting and many more that create lead dust, vapour or fumes.

However, even individuals or contractors stripping lead paint from windows, doors and frames from homes and workplaces can lead to exposure.

 

What we can offer:

Envirochem can offer UKAS accredited Lead in paint analysis and we can attend site and sample for you or alternatively we offer self-sampling kits for you to sample yourself to send to us for analysis.

 

For more information please contact us on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below:

 

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Asbestos Testing Kits

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Everyone knows that the presence of asbestos is definitely something you don’t want lurking around your home or workplace. With our asbestos self-test kits it’s never been easier to take a sample of an area you think may have asbestos and get it tested by us so you can get on with your day-to-day life.

Our self-sampling kit will enable you to take a sample, safely, from a material you suspect contains asbestos. The substance can be found in a number of materials, and it is commonplace in buildings built prior to 2000. It can be found in anything from corrugated cement and internal cladding panels to window sills, walls and boards. It is always safest to check whether asbestos is present before making any changes to a building.

If you’re considering renovating your home or workspace, make sure you order one of our self-test kits today to ensure the process is as safe as possible. Alternatively, our expert team is always on hand to attend a site and take samples for you. For more information, get in touch with one of our experts today.

We always want your safety to be a priority and to make sure the process of checking for harmful substances is as straight forward as possible. Whether it’s at work or in your home, we understand that it’s not always easy to know where to start if you’re worried about asbestos. Our self-test kits are easy to use, come with all the necessary protective equipment and instructions and can be returned back to us for analysis. If needed, we can let you know feedback and results in just four hours!

We also have a wide variety of self-test kits for a range of different substances along with our Asbestos testing kit, we also offer  Lead in Paint testing kits, Legionella testing kits and more.

Order any of our full range of self-test kits here:

 

For more information or to get in touch with one of our team please fill out the form below or email us at office@envirochem.co.uk.

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Lead in Paint

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It’s not just walls that could contain Lead in paint– it is most likely found on railings, doors and window frames. Test the paint in your home with our self-test kits or have one of our team come out to your site and do the sampling for you. The samples will then be analysis by our in-house UKAS accredited lab.

 

For more information call us on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below;

 

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Chemical Analysis

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From soil contamination to lead in paint testing, our chemical department can offer analysis and consultation on a wide range of issues in the built environment.

 

For more information call us on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below;

 

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Test your home for lead-based paint before renovating or redecorating

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If you’re thinking of redecorating or renovating your home, before you pick out a new paint colour and start taking measurements, it’s crucial to test for the presence of lead-based paint. It is a great way to ensure your walls are safe before releasing potentially harmful dust and paint chips into your home. In fact, there are a number of substances you should consider testing for before making changes to your home.

What is it?

Until the early nineties, when it was banned from being sold in the United Kingdom due to the dangers is posed to people’s health, lead was a common component in paint. If you live in a home that was built before 1992, there’s a chance it contains lead-based paint – even if it’s hidden under layers of new paint!

Why do I need to test for it?

When left untouched, lead paint is generally unharmful. However, if it is disturbed during home improvements – from being cracked or drilled into, for example – it becomes hazardous. If paint chips are ingested, or lead dust is inhaled, there are a number of risks – especially for young children or pregnant women.

High exposure to lead dust can cause a number of problems that affect the body’s organs and function, including the neurological, gastrointestinal and reproductive organs. Symptoms can include headaches, insomnia and nausea, among others.

What should I do about it?

If you’re a landlord planning on renovating, or a homeowner thinking of doing some DIY, the first step is to test for the presence of lead in paint.

Our self-test kits are safe, easy to use, and come complete with instructions and return packaging. The results will be back to you within three working days.

Purchase your self-test kit here, or get in touch with a member of the Envirochem team today: on our live chat or via the form below;

 

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Lead in paint in your home – what you need to know

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Lead in paint your home – what you need to know

 

Was your home built before 1978? If so there is a good chance it has lead-based paint. Lead paint is still present in millions of homes and sometimes under layers of newer paint. Here’s what you need to know if you find lead paint in your home.

 

Lead paint is usually not a problem, providing that the paint is in good shape. Deteriorating lead-based paint – for example peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged or damp – is however a hazard and will need immediate attention.

 

Where is it found?

 

As well as being found under layers of newer paints, it can also be hazardous when found on surfaces that get a lot of wear-and-tear. For example windows and window sills, doors and door frames, stairs, railings, banisters, skirting boards and porches.

 

Lead is naturally occurring, and can be found in high concentrations in some areas for example soil, gardens and playgrounds.

 

In a well-maintained home, lead in dust can still be an issue. When lead-based paint is scraped, canned or heated during DIY activities lead dust can form.

 

Lead can also be found in many products including, painted toys, furniture, toy jewellery, food or liquid containers, cosmetic and plumbing products.

 

Drinking water can also be affected by lead, it can enter drinking water through corrosed pipes.

 

Who’s at risk?

 

Children and adults, including pregnant women, are at risk from lead poisoning. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do. Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

 

A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.

 

How to lower the risk from lead paint and make your home safe

 

There are many simple steps that will go a long way in preventing lead exposure, for example:

 

  • inspect and maintain all painted surfaces to prevent paint deterioration
  • keep your home clean and dust-free
  • clean around painted areas where friction can generate dust, such as doors, windows, and drawers
  • wash children’s hands, bottles, and toys often
  • encourage children to wipe and remove their shoes and wash hands after playing outdoors.

 

How Envirochem can help with lead paint

It is important to have your home tested for lead if it was built before 1978. There are two ways to get your home checked, the first is a paint inspection.

 

We have 25 years experience in assessing chemical risks in buildings. When our team conducts a paint inspection, they are able to tell you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. However from a paint inspection we are unable to tell you if the paint is a hazard. This test is appropriate when you are buying or renting a homeland before you do any DIY, and will help you to determine how to maintain your house for lead safety.

 

The second test that our team can carry out for your home is a risk assessment. This test allows our team to tell you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure such as peeling paint and lead dust. We will then provide you with information on what actions to take to address the hazards.

 

Get in touch with our team today to discover how our services can help keep you safe.

 

Lead in paint

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Lead in paint can be found in a variety of buildings, especially if built before 1978. However this period is only guidance as left over paints were often used after this date.

We have conducted surveys in buildings that are be renovated and before demolition and provide our customers with the best course of action to take following the results. If the option of removing the paint is taken we can carry out lead in dust monitoring to ensure works are being carried out appropriately following HSE guidelines.

 

For more information about this service and all our services fill out the form below or call on 01329 287 777

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Paint sampling for analysing the concentration of lead

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As part of a major refurbishment project, we were asked by a company in Portsmouth to undertake paint sampling, for analysing the concentration of lead. This is so the paint is able to be safely disposed of, as well as protecting the employees carrying out the works by knowing the correct PPE to wear. We also do a paint suite which tests for cadmium, chromium and lead which are commonly found within paints and are heavy metals.

 

For more information please call on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below;

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Monitoring lead in air

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A new client of Envirochem within the oil and gas industry, have contacted our occupational hygiene team to help with monitoring lead in air.

This is while their contracted workforce are stripping and servicing old storage tanks ready to be used again. We have set up both personal and static background monitoring within the tanks, and all activity in and out of each tank across the day is logged to work out the personal exposure.

We will now analysis the samples back at our lab to check the dust concentration of both inhalable and respirable dust, as well as metal content using our ICP-OES, with the primary focus being the lead concentration.

Lead and Chromium in paint testing

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For many years lead and chromium based paints were used because of their strong colours, resistance to corrosion and speed of drying. Despite their useful properties these paints are in fact harmful, with lead being a particularly hazardous component of these paints. Unfortunately the uptake of lead into the body is very easy with a common pathway being as simple as dust via hand-to-mouth, making children common victims of lead poisoning. The effects of exposure to lead are devastating to young children, particularly those under the age of 6, with symptoms such as hearing loss, stunted growth, delayed development and nervous system damage.

Lead and chromium based paints were commonly used in buildings and homes built before 1978, when their use was outlawed. Lead and chromium based paints can be a whole range of colours such yellow, bright red, green colour or even a white. These sort of paints were used as both primers and top coats.

Paint samples that we receive are digested in Aqua Regia using microwave digestion and subsequently analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-OES) using our UKAS accredited procedure (please note, Envirochem is only accredited for the analysis of Lead and Chromium in paint and not the sampling of lead and chromium in paint).

 

For more information on this and all our other services please call us on 01329 287 777 or fill out the form below.

 

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