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Lead Based Paint
All homes built prior to 1978 require a Disclosure of Information and
Acknowledgement for Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards
signed by the Seller and Buyer. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check
for lead hazards.
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains
lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose
serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. Since 1996, federal
law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting,
buying, or renovating pre-1978 housing. The following information about
lead-based paint is very important if you have or are considering to
purchase a home built prior to 1978:
People can get lead in their body if they:
- Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their
mouths.
- Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
- Breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb
painted surfaces)
Lead is even more dangerous to children than adults because:
- Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in
their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
- Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
- Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the
damaging effects of lead.
Lead's Effects
If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their
bodies can suffer from:
- Damage to the brain and nervous system
- Behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity)
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Headaches
Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:
- Difficulties during pregnancy
- Other reproductive problems (in both men and women)
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Muscle and joint pain
Checking Your Family For Lead
A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead. Blood test are
important for:
- Children who are 6 months to 1 year old (6 months if you live in an
older home with cracking or peeling paint).
- Family member that you think might have high levels of lead.
If your child is older than 1 year, talk to your doctor about whether
your child needs testing. Your doctor or health center can do blood tests.
They are inexpensive and sometimes free. Your doctor will explain what the
test results mean. Treatment can range from changes in your diet to
medication or a hospital stay.
Where Lead-Based Paint Is Found
Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal
government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states
stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found:
- In homes in the city, country, or suburbs
- In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public
housing.
- Inside and outside of the house.
- In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint,
or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)
Where Lead Is Likely To Be A Hazard
Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.
Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking Lead-based paint may also be a
hazard when found on lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate
attention. Surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear and
tear. These areas include:
- Doors and door frames.
- Windows and window sills.
- Porches and fences.
- Stairs, railings, and banisters.
Lead dust can form when leadsanded, 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 reenter the
air when people vacuum sweep or walk through it. Lead in soil can be a
hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the
house on their shoes.
Checking Your Home For Lead Hazards
You can get your home checked for lead hazards in one of
two ways, or both:
- A paint inspection tells you the lead content of
every painted surface in your home. It won't tell you whether the
paint is a hazard or how you should deal with it.
- A risk 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.
Have qualified professionals do the work. The federal
government is writing standards for inspectors and risk assessors. Some
states might already have standards in place. Call your state agency for
help with locating qualified professionals in your area.
Trained professionals use a range of methods when
checking your home, including:
- Visual inspection of paint condition and location.
- Lab tests of paint samples.
- Surface dust tests.
- A portable x-ray fluorescent machine.
Home test kits for lead are available, but recent
studies suggest that they are not always accurate. Consumers should not
rely on these test before doing renovation 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, windows frames, window sills, and other
surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general
all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made especially for lead. Remember:
NEVER MIX ammonia and bleach products together since they can form a
dangerous gas.
- Thoroughly 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 low-fat dairy products.
Children with good diets absorb less lead.
How To Significantly Reduce Lead
Hazards
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 (call "interim
controls") are not permanent solution and will need ongoing
attention.
- To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a
lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard
elimination) methods include removing, dealing, or enclosing
lead-based paint with special materials. Just paint over the hazard
with regular paint is not enough.
Always hire a person with special training for
correcting lead problems - someone who knows how to do this work safely
and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. If possible, hire a
certified lead abatement contractor. Certified contractors will employ
qualified workers and follow strict safety rules as set by their state or
by the federal government.
Call you state agency for help with locating qualified
contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.
Remodeling or Renovating a Home With
Lead-Based Paint
Take precautions before you begin remodeling or
renovations that disturb painted surfaces (such as scraping off paint or
tearing out walls):
- Have the area tested for lead-based paint.
- Do not use a dry scraper, belt-sander, propane torch,
or heat gun 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 earlier.
For More Information
The National Lead Information Center
Call 1-800-LEAD-FYI to learn how to protect children from lead poisoning.
For other information on lead hazards, call the center's clearinghouse at
100-42 LEAD. For the hearing impaired, call TDD 1-800-526-5456.
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