Question from gayle
We recently purchased an older home (built in the 1940’s) The bathtub seems to be enclosed by a “liner”. It looks/feels like some type of plastic. Since the original tub probably carries lead, does this “liner” make it safe?? How can we tell??
Thanks so much.
Gayle
Debra’s Answer
A number of websites that sell bathtub liners say that such a liner will encapsulate the lead that may be leaching from your bathtub (more than half of all porcelain bathtubs made before 1974 leach lead, which can be absorbed through your skin when you take a bath).
Since you already have an existing liner, it may be made from either PVC vinyl or acrylic. PVC being the more toxic of the two.
You can tell for sure if lead is coming through the liner (or if you need to be concerned about lead in your bathtub) by using a lead test kit, such as Lead Check.
If you need to encapsulate the lead in your bathtub, look into refinishing your tub as it will encapsulate lead as well. Both liners and refinishing are pretty toxic to install. I think refinishing would be less toxic after installation.
