Lead Paint on Bikes
08-16-07, 09:58 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
Lead Paint on Bikes
I don't know if this is the proper section, but it seems to me that there's got to be some lead in the paint used on bike frames. Does anyone know? Perhaps its not a safety issue or is it?
Some bike owners keep their bikes in the house, not the garage.
Some bike owners keep their bikes in the house, not the garage.
08-16-07, 10:30 AM
#2
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Quit chewin' on your bike and it won't be an issue.
08-16-07, 10:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: northern California
Posts: 5,603
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not bloody likely. Dupont Imron and other high tech polymers do not use lead. Bike paints have their own problems. That is why fume hoods are used when they are painted. "White Lead" or 2PbCO2.Pb(OH)2 is a fairly stable ingredient in older structural paints. If you know of anyone still selling it contact the EPA.
08-16-07, 03:15 PM
#4
www.chipsea.blogspot.com
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South of Dallas, Texas
Posts: 1,026
Bikes: Giant OCR C0 road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lead based paint would be way too heavy for our high performance bikes anyway!
08-16-07, 07:48 PM
#5
Cycle Year Round
Not bloody likely. Dupont Imron and other high tech polymers do not use lead. Bike paints have their own problems. That is why fume hoods are used when they are painted. "White Lead" or 2PbCO2.Pb(OH)2 is a fairly stable ingredient in older structural paints. If you know of anyone still selling it contact the EPA.
If you are that worried about lead paint, as stated, don't chew on it; or buy an unpainted Titanium bike.
08-21-07, 12:40 PM
#7
On the road
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New England
Posts: 2,174
Bikes: Old Schwinns and old Raleighs
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 373 Post(s)
Liked 852 Times
in
325 Posts
Explains why my bicycles are all VERY heavy- 3 coats of lead. And I stupid enough to think it was 'cause they're steel.
__________________
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
08-21-07, 12:44 PM
#8
Curmudgeon
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Nausea, New Hamster
Posts: 1,572
Bikes: (see https://wildavis.smugmug.com/Bikes) Bianchi Veloce (2005), Nishiki Cascade (1992), Schwinn Super Sport (1983)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
08-21-07, 01:50 PM
#9
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,030
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5345 Post(s)
Liked 2,169 Times
in
1,288 Posts
08-21-07, 02:13 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Lead bases paint cannot be used in consumer goods.
08-24-07, 10:35 PM
#12
Cycle Year Round
08-28-07, 11:49 AM
#14
Corsair
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 247
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
08-28-07, 12:20 PM
#15
Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: OK
Posts: 415
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice shot Artkansas. 
Lead risk from paint on your bicycle would be some very, very small number approaching zero (even if it contains lead) unless you sand it all off and sprinkle it on your cornflakes; in which case Lead would be the least of your worries.
The major sources for Lead contact in this country were eliminated decades ago, namely lead in motor fuels, paint, and some home health remedies.
Minor risks still exist from plumbing applications that used lead solder, valves and other components. Other sources may include ceramic pottery (particularly brightly colored stuff which may contain all manner of heavy metals in the pigments and the glaze).
Any risk of Lead exposure presumes you have the genetics to make it an issue for you. I worked for years directly with the metal including smelting, drossing, casting, etc, and was tested routinely for lead concentrations in my bloodstream without any problems. Other folks could be on the job two weeks and would have to go find other work because their blood tests would indicate a problem.
I think you have zero risk from the bicycle (don't know about your pipes, china, or cereal bowls) but a blood test is cheap enough if you are concerned.
Lead Test
Lead risk from paint on your bicycle would be some very, very small number approaching zero (even if it contains lead) unless you sand it all off and sprinkle it on your cornflakes; in which case Lead would be the least of your worries.
The major sources for Lead contact in this country were eliminated decades ago, namely lead in motor fuels, paint, and some home health remedies.
Minor risks still exist from plumbing applications that used lead solder, valves and other components. Other sources may include ceramic pottery (particularly brightly colored stuff which may contain all manner of heavy metals in the pigments and the glaze).
Any risk of Lead exposure presumes you have the genetics to make it an issue for you. I worked for years directly with the metal including smelting, drossing, casting, etc, and was tested routinely for lead concentrations in my bloodstream without any problems. Other folks could be on the job two weeks and would have to go find other work because their blood tests would indicate a problem.
I think you have zero risk from the bicycle (don't know about your pipes, china, or cereal bowls) but a blood test is cheap enough if you are concerned.
Lead Test
