Is YOUR Home—Are YOUR Children—

Lead Safe?

April 2014

Understanding the Risk of Lead

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Lead poisoning remains the #1 environmental threat to

America’s children.

For most children, their exposure to lead occurs in the home.

Young children, those agesix and under, are particularlysusceptible to the effects of

lead poisoning.

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What is Lead?

• Naturally-occurring elementfound in soil, rocks, and water.

• A heavy metal.

• Used throughout humanhistory as an additive for awide variety of products.

TOXIC to humans and animals.

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Lead PAINT

For many decades, lead was added toPAINT. Lead helped paint go on more smoothly, last longer, and resist rust more effectively.

Leaded paint was used on both theinteriors and exteriors ofhomes.

Once the paint beginsto deteriorate, itbecomes a leadHAZARD.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

September 2, 1977 

Release # 77-096

CPSC Announces Final Ban On Lead-Containing Paint

While paint manufacturers had beengradually decreasing the amount of lead in paint, it was not

until 1978that HUD and the Consumer Product

Safety Commission successfully banned lead from house paint. That means that any home built before 1978 may contain leaded paint. The older the home, the greater the

likelihood that its paint contained lead additives.

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EPA estimates that:•87 percent of pre-1940 homes contain Pb paint•69 percent of homes built 1940-1959•24 percent of homes constructed 1960-1978Likelihood of

Lead Paint

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Lead Exposure

Humans are exposed to lead viaINGESTION and INHALATION.

As paint deteriorates, it may flake/chipor degrade to a fine dust.

Ingesting (swallowing) lead dust causes lead poisoning.

Lead dust is virtually invisible andeasily dispersed into the air. Airborne,

inhaled lead dust causes lead poisoning.

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ALL lead paint will deteriorate with time,

but some areas are especially vulnerable:

WindowsDoors

Stairs and Banisters

The effects of weathering, friction, and

human handling mean that paint degrades rapidly on these

surfaces.

Interior Lead Paint

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ExteriorLead Paint

Lead paint chips and dust are likely to settle in the soil near homes

with exterior leaded paint.

Children should avoid playing in the grass or soil in the immediate

vicinity of the house, and vegetable gardens should be

located as far from the house as possible.

EPA’sDanger Zone

Finder

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Available online at EPA’s website,the Danger Zone Finder can

help consumers recognize thelocations in their homes where lead

contamination is most likely :

http://www2.epa.gov/lead/home-danger-zone-finder

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Health Effects of Lead PoisoningChildren Adults

Neurological (brain) damage:Reduced IQ/Learning disabilities

Mental retardationHyperactivity/ADD

Disruptive/violent behavior

Anemia

Anemia High blood pressure

Hearing loss Hearing loss

Impaired growth Reproductive difficultiesMiscarriage/premature birth

Kidney damage Kidney damage

Insomnia Memory loss

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Because 90 percent of a child’s braindevelopment occurs in the first five to

six years of life, infants and young children

are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning deters the formation of synapses (connections between

brain cells) and damages the myelin coating on

the nerves (neurons) in the brain.

Neurological Impact onInfants and

Young Children

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The majority of lead poisoned children may not

exhibit any outward symptoms of illness, or symptoms may be so

vague as to be mistaken for any number of minor

childhood maladies.For this reason, screening young children for lead poisoning is CRITICAL

in avoiding irreversible brain damage.

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Lead Screenings

Current CDC guidelines call for lead screenings at 12 and 24

months of age. Screenings are accomplished via blood from a

finger (or heel) prick.

In May 2012, the CDC revised the lead reference level, cutting in

half theblood lead level at which case

management is indicated (from the previous 10 µg/dL to 5

µg/dL).

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Other Sources

of Lead in the Home

Lead may leach into WATER if a home

contains:

a)lead plumbing. [unlikely]b)copper plumbing joined with

lead solder.c) brass fixtures or faucets.

Lead may leach into foods or liquidsif served in leaded crystal.

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Lead in Consumer

Goods

Beware of inexpensive, imported items you may bring into the

home:Ceramic (lead in paint/glaze)Plastic/Vinyl (lead used for

stability)Children’s toys and jewelry

Items recalled for lead content can be

found on the Consumer ProductSafety Commission website at:

http://www.cpsc.gov

Testing for Lead

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Professionals can test paint, householdproducts, and water for the presence of

lead.

Lead-Based Paint Inspection – Will reveal whether or not a home contains lead-based

paint, and, if so, where.

Lead Risk Assessment – Will reveal whether or not lead hazards currently exist in home’s

paint, dust, or soil.

Paint and

Product Testing

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Paint-Chip Analysis:Tests for presence of lead on walls or surfaces.

Requires removal of all paint layers, withsamples sent to laboratory for determination.

X-Ray Fluorescence:Can be used on walls, furniture, toys, or other

objects. Certified technicians can perform testing in the home with a portable unit or in their own

laboratory.Laboratory Testing:

Testing for objects only. Dissolving agent used on item’s surface to test for—and weigh—lead

content.

Water Testing

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Contact a certified laboratory for testing

of tap water. They should provideyou with sample containers and

comprehensive instructions. Followinstructions exactly, and send the

sample to the laboratory foranalysis.

Those with lead may wish to consider

a filtration system.

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Lead Poisoning PreventionStrategies

If a home was built before 1978:•Consider testing the house and property for lead.•Maintain strict cleanliness standards, wet mopping floors

and damp cleaning windowsills and other surfaceswith soap and warm water at least weekly.

•Wash children’s hands and toys thoroughly and often.•Use COLD water for drinking and cooking.•Be certain to have children tested for lead!

Renovation and

Remodeling

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Hiring a Professional:The 2010 RRP (Renovation, Repair,

and Painting) legislation demands that all professionals hired for remodeling

work in homes or child-occupied facilities constructed prior to 1978

receive training and certification in lead-safe work practices.

When hiring a contractor, be certain to verify that the firm is certified.

The Basics for

Homeowners

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Personal ProtectionDisposable clothing/protective

equipment is crucial. All items should be placed in a plastic bag and

discarded after use.

CoverallsPainter hatShoe covers

GlovesN-100 respirator

Goggles

Containment and Dust

Minimization

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Keep dust in and everyone but the worker(s) out!•Remove all furnishings.•Turn off forced-air heat or air conditioning.•Cover the door, floor or carpeting, and all duct openings with 6 mil plastic sheeting secured by tape.•Avoid dry scraping or sanding, using wet sanders and misting all surfaces.•Use only low-temperature (1,000 degree or less)

heat guns.•Score painted surfaces with a utility knife before

cutting/separating.•Pry and pull apart, rather than hammering or

pounding.

End-of-Project

CLEANING

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Careful, thorough cleaning upon projectcompletion is imperative!

•Mist all plastic sheeting and fold (dirty sideinward). Seal in sturdy plastic bags for

disposal.•Damp clean ALL surfaces, working from top to bottom.•Vacuum walls and floors with a HEPA vacuum•Mop floors.•Clean all Clean all tools before removing from the premises.

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“A man’s home is hiscastle, and where

shall a man be safe ifit be not in his own

house?”

--Edward Coke1844

Lesson Review QUIZ

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1. Lead enters a human’s bloodstream via _______________ and _______________.

2. Lead poisoning is particularly problematic for children aged six and under because it affects their ____________.

3. Children should be routinely tested for lead poisoning at 12 and _______ months of age.

4. Lead was banned for use in paint in U.S. homes in ______.

5. Identify one area of the home that is particularly vulnerable to lead paint deterioration.

6. The RRP Rule addresses ______________ work practices.

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Lead Resources

Comprehensive, downloadable bookletsavailable from the EPA at:www.epa.gov/lead

Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC)www.cdc.gov/lead

The National Lead Information Centerwww.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm