Lead exposure
 

Yesterday I found myself grinding on my door panels with wire wheel and so on to remove some surface rust. That took off a lot of the old paint, so I had to repaint them.

I had eye and ear protection but no mask. The painting I did outdoors, so I didn't bother.

The first 12 times I blew my nose and the first 2 times I gargled it was full of black specks and garbage. It might have been the spraypaint or it might have been the ground off paint dust. Ugh. Lesson learned.

However, I then panic'd wondering if I was going to die of lead exposure, because a LOT of these old coatings are lead based. Heck, the paint I use on engines still is.

I asked my doctor if it was a case of "please get your affairs in order" or "use a mask next time, idiot". He said it was the latter.

Still, since I've ground on or sandblasted almost every part of this truck you have to wonder about cumulative lead exposure. I have never really worried about it until thinking about it yesterday.

Anyone from OSHA on here? :-)

Thanks
Dave

Re: Lead exposure
 

OH NO YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. From old age.

Re: Lead exposure
 

:lol:worry wart....just remember all the old school body guys. I think you would need to have a whole lot more exposure to create a problem. ...

Re: Lead exposure
 

Anyone from OSHA on here? :-)

Most folks from OSHA, EPA or Homeland Security would probably say you have lived long enough already. Don't listen too much to those tin-hats or you will die from worry. On the other hand, a NIOSH approved, N-95 dust mask is not a bad thing when you are dealing with unknown dusts.

Re: Lead exposure
 

I have a box of N95s, I guess I should be using them! Don't need a full respirator for lead?

Re: Lead exposure
 

I'll ask our safety guy at work but I believe OSHA website lets you look information on different requirements up

Re: Lead exposure
 

Think about the old cats that filled body seams with real lead. Lots of those cats lived into their 80's and 90's until they croaked.

Gary

Re: Lead exposure
 

i've been sanding grinding and painting old trucks for years and it hasn't affected me in the least )#@KP~:W:H~H ! GAK !:chevy:

Re: Lead exposure
 

I'm not a certified industrial hygienist, but the N-95 should protect you just fine as long as you get a good fit (no beard..no mustache). We all get lead in us just from every day life, so the thing is to keep yourself from getting over exposed to it.

If you are worried about lead, make sure that you keep your shop clean and well ventilated too. Good hygiene before eating, drinking or smoking is a good practice (wash hands). Lead can get in you through the skin and mouth also.

Watch yourself when spraying stuff with isocyanates (the isocyanate epoxy hardeners contain cyanate=cyanide=rat poison=carcinogen). Limit your exposure as isocyanates can get in you through your skin too. A friend of mine died from liver cancer at 35. He painted cars in his spare time in his garage because he loved it. He never used a respirator unless I was there.

Re: Lead exposure
 

Surprised they didn't give you a full body x-ray. Be sure to get your tetanus shots.

Re: Lead exposure
 

Yes it is a real danger. I am a firefighter and I run into many an old guy or "cats" that lived in to their 80's and 90 until they croaked. But they lived a miserable last 15 or 20 years of their lives stuck to an oxygen tank, barely able to walk from their recliner to the bathroom and back without passing out from lack of oxygen. Their lungs full of crap they breathed in working in shipyards, bodyshops, boiler rooms, etc.

WEAR YOUR DAM MASK so you can enjoy playing with your great grand kids and not watching them from the hospital bed in the living room.

Re: Lead exposure
 

You don't like cats? ;)

Gary

Re: Lead exposure
 

Similarly, I'm wondering about what level of protection is needed from the reducer as mentioned above.
It seems that some say a fresh air system, and full cover, and some just a good respirator/filter.
My understanding is isocyanates can be absorbed through the skin, not to mention eyes, yikes! :(

Re: Lead exposure
 

The guys who run the range where I shoot cast their own bullets and reload them. When casting lead they use respirators. If you play with fire you get burned, and lead vapor will really burn you badly!

Re: Lead exposure
 

I have more than a few friends who gave me grief for shooting paint using a mask and coveralls back in the '80's .....Their all dead now ! Wear protective equipment they make it for a reason .:hmm:

Re: Lead exposure
 

I read a book about this guy who worked in lead mine in a Siberian labor camp and when his teeth started falling out from exposure, he decided to escape. If I were you, I would start wiggling my teeth several times a day for the next couple of years, and worry constantly.

Re: Lead exposure
 

good news! OSHA has no problem with it.

bad news: EPA wants to quarantine your whole neighborhood...

Re: Lead exposure
 

A mask is a good idea but you might want to consider getting one of these. It is amazing how quickly the filter turns black when it's running during grinding etc. works to get smoke out the air too.

Re: Lead exposure
 

I made one of those filter machines when I did cabinet work. I think it was a kit you could buy. It came with the motor and switch etc. You just had to make the box and buy the filters.

Re: Lead exposure
 

I don't worry about lead poisoning or tetanus so much when working on my truck as I do the Hanta Virus.