[zdragnar]

It's a tangent, but worth pointing out that like asbestos, lead paint remediation is often more dangerous than doing nothing. Paint over it, and it isn't hurting anyone. Sand it off, and now you have super fine lead particles floating in the air and settling all over the place just waiting to be disturbed and kicked up again.

Lead pipes are an entirely different matter, and remediation is usually (wrongly) deferred due to cost.

[dpierce9]

Lead remediation isn’t just sanding and covering with paint is not always a good idea. First windows and doors are painted friction surfaces which create lead dust. Second, painting over it assumes the bond between the substrate and the lead paint will hold in perpetuity. In practice it doesn’t but yes often painting is a good form of remediation. This does not work outside though. Third, sanding is not great for all of the reasons you mentioned but not the only way to remediate (e.g., steaming, chemical stripping, physical encapsulation, or removal are all options). Fourth, it was really just an example of how the built environment is incredibly sticky to things which are downright dangerous, known to be dangerous, and yet continue to persist because of the associated expense. Your example is also good.