Lead exposure

[davepl]

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