Lead from paint, dust and soil can be dangerous if not managed properly.
- Fact: Landlords have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before the lease takes effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint.
- Fact: Sellers have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead.
- Fact: Renovators are required to be an EPA LEAD SAFE CERTIFIED FIRM to conduct work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.
- Fact: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies before they are born.
- Fact: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
- Fact: People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.
- Fact: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to you and your family.
- Fact: People have many options for reducing lead hazards.
Lead enters the body in many ways:
- Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
- Put their hands or other objects covered with lead into their mouth.
- Breathe in lead dust during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
Lead’s Effects
To children lead is even more dangerous than to adults. Children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their body. Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Additionally, children often put their hands and other objects into their mouths, which may have lead dust on them, and their growing bodies absorb more lead.
When early detection methods are not employed, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer in a variety of ways:
- Damage to the nervous system and brain
- Learning and behavioral issues
- Slowed growth
- Headaches and hearing problems
For adults a range of harmful suffering may include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Concentration and memory issues
- Nerve disorders
- High blood pressure and digestive trouble
- Reproductive problems in both men and women
Lead Hazard Identifiers
Lead-based paint is usually not a hazard if it is in good condition, and it is not on an impact or friction surface, like a window. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking or damaged) is a lead hazard and needs immediate attention. It may also be a lead hazard when found on a surface that children can chew or that gets a great deal of wear-and-tear. Lead dust and lead in soil are two potential areas of threat. The only way to find out if paint, dust and soil lead hazards exist is to test for them.