One Jackson Hole family was recently surprised to find that the recycled barn wood siding on their home contains lead paint, and that their toddler had detectable levels of lead in her blood.

Here in Jackson we’re blessed with an environment that is generally impeccably clean.  Most of our housing stock was built after the 1978 when lead was removed from household paint.  However, the recent popularity of re-purposed old barn wood seems to have reintroduced an old problem. 

As painted wood ages, it produces paint chips and dust on it’s surface and on the ground nearby.  If the chips or dust contain lead, they are easily ingested by toddlers who love putting things in their mouth.  Lead levels in children usually peak at around 18-24 months of age.  Toddlers are also at an age of critical brain development, when lead exposure can be most damaging.

The local family with the lead-paint recycled siding caught the problem early--they identified the potential hazard (their home was built in 1984, well after lead paint was outlawed) and had it tested by the Teton Country Department of Health.  Their toddler’s lead level was not significantly elevated and will not cause any ongoing problems.  If the exposure had been prolonged, however, the outcome might have been different.

If your home has recycled painted wood siding, consider having it tested.  And before you purchase recycled siding, check with the supplier to make sure it’s lead-free.  -TR

LINK(S):

U.S. Centers for Disease Control Lead Information Page