LEADED WINDOWS AS A SOURCE OF LEAD WITHIN HOMES

Corrosion of 'cames', i.e., the lead binding or decorative strips in leaded windows. is a significant, but previously unreported source of lead within older homes. Surfaces close to the leaded windows are highly contaminated with lead but the content of lead in dust diminishes rapidly within the first 2 m away from the window and is minimal after 3 m. The dust near the window was identified, using X-ray diffraction, as mainly composed of basic lead carbonate. Condensation water on leaded windows contains appreciable lead whereas for unleaded windows it is negligible. The exterior surface of unleaded windows contains more lead than the interior surface but the converse is true for leaded windows. A laboratory simulation suggested that corrosion by window condensate was likely to be the principal mechanism by which lead entered the home environment.