Raleigh's Bain Project: An environmental health hazard?

This weekend marks the second and closing weekend for the Bain Project, an art installation exploring the history of E.B. Bain Waterworks in South Raleigh.

The project has been widely covered in the local media, including the Raleigh News & Observer and the Independent Weekly.

But a story that appears today at New Raleigh raises an important concern that hasn't been addressed in the previous coverage: the serious lead hazards in the building.

In her regular column for the news site, Billie Karel with Toxic Free NC writes:

I heartily recommend the Bain Project installation to anyone who hasn't been out to see it yet, but - and I say this out of love - the place is full of peeling dusty corroded lead-based paint, and you should think long and hard before bringing your kids.

Karel attended the exhibition with a lead poisoning expert who was disturbed by what she saw there, including children falling on the floor. She points out that the primary source of exposure for children is the lead dust that can wind up ingesting from contact with contaminated floors and window sills.

The artists who have been involved in creating the installations are undoubtedly aware of the hazards: One of the photos at the N&O's site shows multiple media artist Tim Kiernan working in the building while wearing a respirator. In fact, the installation's own website notes that the parents of young children should be advised that the building contains lead paint; to see that warning, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

But lead isn't a concern only for children. In adults, lead exposure can damage nerves, causing sensory and coordination problems. It can also impair fertility by causing decreased sperm counts in men, and retard fetal development at even extremely low levels, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

I would urge everyone attending the installation -- not just the parents of young children -- to be careful about the potential hazard.