Lead – atomic symbol Pb – is an extremely stable element, blue-grey in metallic form and categorised as a heavy metal. Obtained from mineral galena (lead sulphide) lead has been known and used by mankind for thousands of years because of its low melting point, malleability and anti corrosive properties. It was widely used by the Romans, particularly as water pipes and drains. In fact Latin word lead is plumbum and it is from this we get the term plumber.
The industrial revolution saw an increased usage of lead, particularly in roofing, ammunition, paint and allowing with other metals. Lead continues to be used in wide range of products today, including motor vehicle batteries, shielding of x-ray and absorbing radiation from tvand computer screens. Australia is a major exporter of lead, generating in excess of $400 Million export earnings.
Health problems caused by lead poisoning have been known since ancient times, however it is only this century that world wild concerns about lead poisoning and its cumulative effects on human health and the environment have been acted upon. From the early 1900s increased reports in international medical journal of child fatalities due to poisoning from leaded paint started to appear.
These reports prompted a number of enquiries, which led to varying regulations to control exposure of children and industrial workers to lead and its many derivatives.
However, it was as early as the 1890s in Queensland that it was noticed that children exposed to leaded paint were displaying symptoms consistent with lead poisoning. Further investigation revealed that normal childhood hand to month behaviour was the most likely pathway for children being poisoned by lead. This important discovery linked deteriorating lead paint and exposure to lead dust as the greatest hazard for children.
It was not until the late 1990’s that has been significantly reduced and in some cases eliminated from paints despite more than half a century of knowledge and concern about health hazards for workers and the public in general.
INORGANIC LEAD COMPOUNDS
The most common inorganic lead compounds used in the Painting and Decorating trade were those of white and red lead. They were primarily used as pigments in a wide range of architectural marine industrial paints.
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White lead (white carbonate of lead) was formed by the reaction of acid and bark oak trees on strips of lead over a period of time. The white powder which resulted was collected, finely ground and mixed with a drying vegetable oil to form a stiff white paste. Painters and Decorators would further break this paste down with oil and turpentine prior to its application as a paint.
Red lead (lead tetraoxide) is made by heating metallic lead and exposing it to form a skin of lead oxide on the surface which is skimmed off and allowed to dry. The red lead is a result of the lead combining with oxygen. It is then finely ground and processed in a similar manner to that of white lead.
OTHER LEAD COMPOUNDS COMMONLY USED IN PAINTING AND DECORATING
- LEAD CHROMATE – CHROMATE OF LEAD – COLOURED PIGMENTS INCLUDING CHROME YELLOW, CHROME GREEN AND CHROME ORANG
- LEAD MONOXIDE – LITHAGE, USED AS A DRIER
- LEAD ACETATE – A COBINATION OF LEAD OXIDEAND AXETIC ACID (SUGER OF LEADE) – USED A DRIER
If you are going to paint your house and need more information call us today at Bloomin’Good Painters Sydney and speak to one of our specialist on 1800 204 145.
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