Reducing Lead Hazards
Also see:This is page 2 of "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home", an EPA publication. Go to Page 1.
Identifying Lead Hazards
Lead–based paint is usually not a hazard if it is in good condition, and it is not an impact or friction surface, like a window. It is defined by the federal govenment as paint with lead levels greater than or equal to 1.0 milligram per square centimeter, or more than 0.5% by weight.
Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking or damaged) is a hazard and needs immediate attention. It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as:
- Windows and window sills.
- Doors and door frames.
- Stairs, railings, banisters and porches.
Lead dust can form when lead based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it. The following two federal standards have been set for lead hazards in dust:
- 40 mircrograms per square foot and higher for floors, including carpeted floors.
- 250 micrograms per square foot and higher for interior window sills.
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. The following two federal standards have been set for lead hazards in residential soil:
- 400 parts per million and higher in play areas of bare soil.
- 1,200 parts per million (average) and higher in bare soil in the remainder of the yard.
Checking Your Home for Lead
The only way to find out if paint, dust and soil lead hazards exist is to test for them. Just knowing that a home has lead–based paint may not tell you if there is a hazard. You can get your home checked for lead in one of two ways, or both:
- A paint inspection tells you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. It won't tell you whether the paint is a hazard or how you should deal with it.
- A rish assessment tells you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure (such as peeling paint and lead dust). It also tells you what actions to take to address these hazards.
Hire a trained, certified professional who will use a range of reliable methods when checking your home, such as:
- Visual inspection of paint condition and location.
- A portable x–ray fluorescence (xrf) machine.
- Lab tests of paint, dust and soil samples.
There are standards in place to ensure the work is done safely, reliably and effectively. Contact your local lead poisoning prevention program for more information or call 1–800–424–LEAD for a list of contacts in your area.
Home test kits for lead are available, but may not always be accurate. Consumers should not rely on these tests before doing renovations or to assure safety.
What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Family
If you suspect that your house has lead hazards, you can take some immediate steps to reduce your family's risk:
- If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
- Clean up paint chips immediately.
- Clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all–purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead.
- Thourougly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
- Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time.
- Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys and stuffed animals regularly
- Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
- Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
- Make sure children eat nutritious, low–fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.
Reducing Lead Hazards in the Home
Removing lead improperly can increase the hazard to your family by spreading even more lead dust around the house. Always use a professional who is trained to remove lead hazards safely. In addition to day–to–day cleaning and good nutrition:
- You can temporarily reduce lead hazards by taking actions such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover soil with high lead levels. These actions (called "interim controls") are not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention.
- To permanently remove lead hazards, you should hire a cerified lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead–based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not permanent removal.
Always hire a person with special training for correcting lead problems, i.e. someone who knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules as set by their state or by the federal government.
Once the work is completed, dust cleanup activities must be repeated until testing indicates that lead dust levels are below the following:
- 40 micrograms per square foot for floors, icluding carpeted floors;
- 250 micrograms per square foot for interior window sills and
- 400 micrograms per square foot for window troughs.
Call your local agency for help with locating certified contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.
Remodeling or Renovating a Home with Lead–Based Paint
If not conducted properly, certain types of renovations can release lead from paint and dust into the air. Take precautions before your contractor or you begin remodeling or renovating anything that disturbs painted surfaces such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls:
- Have the area tested for lead–based paint.
- Do not use a belt–sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper or dry sandpaper to remove lead–based paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and fumes. Lead dust can remain in your home long after the work is done.
- Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can't move your family, at least completely seal off the work area.
- Follow other safety measures to reduce lead hazards. You can find out about other safety measures by calling 1–800–424–LEAD. Ask for the brochure "Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home." This brochure explains what to do before, during and after renovations.
If you have already completed renovations or remodeling that could have released lead–based paint or dust, get your young children tested and follow the steps outlined above.
