Common Sources

Lead was historically used as an additive to primers and paints. It was applied to steel structures as it would increase the durability of the paint while reducing the corrosion of the steel. However, the use of lead-based paint was not restricted to steel buildings and it became common in homes, apartments, and public housing buildings constructed before 1978.

Before tests proved high levels of lead to be harmful, it could be found commercially in two common forms:

• Organic

• Inorganic

Inorganic lead (such as is found in lead-based paint) is directly absorbed and distributed into the body in three primary areas:

• Blood

• Soft tissue (such as the kidneys, bone marrow, brain, and liver)

• Bones and teeth

Exposure to lead can have serious health effects for both children and adults.

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Behavior and learning problems
• Slowed growth
• Hearing problems
• Headaches

• Ill effects during pregnancy
• Reproductive problems (men and women)
• High blood pressure
• Digestive difficulties
• Nerve disorders
• Memory and concentration problems
• Muscle and joint pain

Lead-based paint in the home is most dangerous when it begins to deteriorate. If the paint begins to crack or chip, lead dust forms and disperses into the air; the dust cannot be smelled, seen or tasted, and can be found both inside the home in the air and in or on surfaces, or outside in the soil. Lead dust can enter the body through:

• Consumption

• Eating lead-saturated soil or paint chips containing lead
• Inserting hands or objects covered in lead dust into mouth

• Inhalation

Breathing in lead dust

Young children are especially prone to encounter lead by touching or chewing on surfaces coated in lead-based paint.

If not detected and controlled, lead-based paint may also form harmful levels of dust during construction or renovation. Some of the processes that increase the risk of elevated dust levels include dry scraping, dry sanding, and the use of a heat gun or propane torch.

Testing

There are two ways in which your home can be checked for lead:

• Paint Inspection

• Risk Assessment

There are home lead test kits available if you are concerned about your home but their reliability is not always assured and these tests should not be trusted for accurate information. Instead, a trained, certified professional should do the testing work in your home. The government certifies all testers and holds them to the same level of competency in lead testing.

Certified lead testers will use several methods of inspection to check your home for lead, including:

• Visual inspection
• XRF (X-ray fluorescence) scans
• Lab test of the paint samples
• Surface dust tests

Federal law requires that individuals such as landlords and real estate personnel notify you if there is lead-based paint in an apartment or home that you may be renting or buying, and must provide you with a period of time in which to check for lead hazards. Contractors are also required by law to provide lead information before beginning renovation on a building constructed before 1978.

Since lead-based paints are usually not a danger if they are in good condition, keeping your home in good repair can reduce your risk of contamination from any lead-based paint product. If you know your home is at risk from lead-based paint dust – for instance, in areas where the paint is peeling, chipping, cracking, or chalking - repairing the damaged areas can temporarily reduce the hazard. However, this is only a temporary solution, since the areas will need constant upkeep.

To permanently remove the hazard of lead-based paint from a building, you must hire a certified lead abatement contractor. The work required to encapsulate (contain) or abate (remove) lead can only be done safely by a licensed contractor who knows the safe procedures and will follow the rules mandated by the federal government or the state. The contractor may use methods which will remove, seal, or enclose lead-based paint in a safe manner, and will follow strict procedures to thoroughly clean up any remaining lead after the job is complete. Some procedures currently used include:

• Pelletized/Granulated CO2 blasting (interior)

• Chemical Stripping (interior)

www.epa.gov/lead