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I Have A House That Was Built In 1940 And

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Posted on Sat, 27 Oct 2018
Question: I have a house that was built in 1940 and probably has lead paint. I took two screws out of a wall and some of the dust got on the fabric of a chair seat. (I think more went on the floor.) I licked my finger to try to get it off the seat, wiped the paint dust with my wet finger off the seat, and then licked my finger and wiped again (and repeated a couple of times), without even thinking about the fact that this might be lead paint. Is this a small enough amount of possible lead exposure that it wouldn’t matter, or do I need to be concerned?
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Answered by Dr. salah saad shoman (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need to worry

Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, I have gone through your question and I understand your concerns but it is unlikely that you suffer from lead poisoning from such tiny amount. However, multiple exposures to lead paint can cause serious problems including high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, difficult concentration, headache or abdominal pain.. If you experience any of these symptoms then please get a blood test for lead level to detect if it’s level is high. I hope you find this helpful..
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. salah saad shoman

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3148 Questions

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I Have A House That Was Built In 1940 And

Brief Answer: No need to worry Detailed Answer: Dear sir, I have gone through your question and I understand your concerns but it is unlikely that you suffer from lead poisoning from such tiny amount. However, multiple exposures to lead paint can cause serious problems including high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, difficult concentration, headache or abdominal pain.. If you experience any of these symptoms then please get a blood test for lead level to detect if it’s level is high. I hope you find this helpful..