Lead in the Bathtub
Hi, So I had the potential 2 family brownstone thoroughly tested for Lead yesterday –since we have a toddler– and while I was expecting lead on the woodwork, I was shocked to find the highest reading in the whole house to be the inside of the beautiful cast iron clawfoot tub!!! Now I have to…
Hi,
So I had the potential 2 family brownstone thoroughly tested for Lead yesterday –since we have a toddler– and while I was expecting lead on the woodwork, I was shocked to find the highest reading in the whole house to be the inside of the beautiful cast iron clawfoot tub!!!
Now I have to find a replacement tub that looks old– anyone have experience with this– do all these old tubs have lead in the porcelain? It doesn’t look like it’s been refinished…
Is there any other free-standing, NON-tacky, non acrylic options?
Besides the 20k urban archaeology versions… ?
Wow, THL, hit a nerve did I? Take two chill pills and post here tomorrow.
F-off and bite me CMU.
The fact is she’s having a BROWNSTONE tested for lead which (no offense OP), is redundant in and of itself. It’s an old house it’s got lead.
But so what? That’s her business. Let her test it every year if she wants. No need for you to get sanctimonious about it.
Now do you know a place where she can get an new lead free old looking replacement tub or not?
THL, once again you come across as the peeve.
OP’s fears are groundless and if she has any sense she’ll get the message and save a ton of money, not to mention becoming a less-obsessive and happier person to boot. Cheaper than therapy.
And I didn’t know that I had the power to prevent her replacing her tub by my post here. I’ll have to give myself the POTD award.
Having the tub deleaded and perhaps reglazed would cost you around $600.
Otherwise you are looking around $1,100 for a new tub.
http://www.signaturehardware.com
Has one of the largest selections of various types of tubs at fairly reasonable prices. They also have all the typical fittings and accessories you’d want.
I’d STRONGLY recommend having the original tub rehabbed unless it is in terrible shape.
What gives guys? She wasn’t asking for people to weigh in on whether or not she was making the right decision.
If she wants to replace the tub let her. If you don’t have an answer to her question mind your beeswax.
BFAG it’s quite common for new (particularly PS) parents to be absolutely paranoid about lead, asbestos, falls down stairs and heated radiators among other things. They seem to have no sense of proportion, or knowledge of the real danger. And I speak as a parent. As you said, lead in a bathtub is NO danger unless said child licks it.
Recommend OP read story in NY times about how a little dirt on children trains the immume system.
There’s also the chance that the child might drink the bathwater, but unless you bathe the kid in something acidic, like orange juice, I don’t think there’d be any significant quantity of lead. If it was me, I’d leave the tub (which, in fact, is what I did and my son, now 26, showed no sign of lead poisoning). I understand the OP’s desire to protect their child, but IMO this borders on the obsessive.
Are you seriously going to replace a clawfoot tub at an expense of thousands on the off chance that your child might spend several hours a day licking it?
Pardon my ignorance as I don’t have children, but is this common? Don’t take this the wrong way, but if my child spent his days licking the tub I can’t imagine the lead is going to do any more damage than they already have.
Why can’t you strip it and reglaze it? Sorry if that’s a dumb question.