
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991                   TAG: 9103140019
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Tammy Poole
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

READER SEEKS REFUND OF $250 LOAN DEPOSIT

Q: I applied for a loan from an advertisement in the Roanoke Times & World-News several months ago. I had to give a $250 deposit to qualify, which was guaranteed to be refunded if I was denied the loan. The loan was denied, but I have never gotten my deposit back. Can you help? - L.L., Roanoke

A: Quickline contacted the company that placed the ad, American Finance Service Inc. of Oakland Park, Fla. The company said it has issued a $250 refund check to you. It sent us a copy of the check you should receive in a few days. If you do not receive it, contact Quickline again.

Mercury in paint

Last August, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of the metal mercury in indoor paints because of the danger of inhaling the vapors that may exist in heavy concentrations during indoor painting.

Mercury was added to paints in the past to make the paint resistant to mold and mildew.

Although exterior paints may still contain mercury as a fungicide, labels have to carry warnings about the vapors. Symptoms include sweating, a racing heart, aching limbs, kidney problems, hand tremors, and peeling skin.

Last year the EPA released a list of paint manufacturers using mercury. Some companies had already eliminated mercury from their paints.

Sherwin-Williams and Sears report that they stopped adding mercury to their paints in 1973.

Check with the manufacturer as to the mercury level when using interior latex paints containing mercury. If the mercury added constitutes less than 200 parts per million, the health risk is minimal.

When using low-mercury latex paint, open all windows and doors to provide maximum ventilation and, upon finishing the work, leave the area until the paint has dried. Latex paints with mercury that are labeled "indoor-outdoor" should not be used indoors.

This information from Building Ideas magazine

by CNB