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Inspection Insights: Lead-Based Paint

By
Home Inspector with Pillar To Post

 

portland home inspection

April 2010, a new federal regulation regarding lead paint has just taken affect for every building built before 1978 - and unlike an earlier law, includes apartments and not just common areas. Starting April 22, 2010, any hired professional - from outside contractor to your co-op or condo's super - must have a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead-paint-removal training and certification for any painting, window/door replacement or anything else that disturbs more than six square feet of paint in an apartment or house.

Two thirds of homes and half of the schools and day care centers built before 1960 have some lead-based paint.

According to the EPA, exposure to lead-contaminated dust is the most common cause of lead poisoning in children as well as health problems in adults.

For educational materials and brochures, please call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD (5323) or please visit www.epa.gov/lead.

Why is Lead a Problem for Children?

  • Causes critical health issue for young children
  • High levels of lead can result in anemia, hearing loss, GI discomfort,
    and even encephalopathy, seizures, coma and death
  • Lower, more typical, levels of lead can affect neurological development
  • Strong associations between even very low levels of lead as a child
    affects their IQ later in life
  • Links to behavioral and learning difficulties
  • Damage is essentially permanent - preventing exposure is crucial

Lead is bad for adults too!

  • Increases chances of miscarriage and complications during pregnancy
  • Fertility problems (both men and women)
  • High blood pressure
  • Neurological disorders
  • Memory and concentration problems
  • Potential cancer risks

Paint chips, while dangerous, are NOT primary source of poisoning. Dust from deteriorating paint is the primary contributor. Dust from paint accumulates on surfaces and toys and then sticks to a child's hand, which are often placed in their mouth.

Adults may also be exposed to paint dust created at their place of work, eg. manufacturing plant.

For instance, painted door jams and window sashes create paint dust during use. For toddlers, who spend a great deal of time on their hands and knees, and who ‘test' the world through their mouths, this dust presents a serious health hazard if it contains lead.

Testing
Knowing if you have lead based paint is half the battle. The paint can be tested on site by a lead abatement contractor who has specialized testing equipment that can give you instant results. The alternative is to send a sample to a lab for testing. Contact the lab first to get directions for obtaining and packaging the sample.

Dealing with Lead Based Paint
Keep it clean: Lead dust is the problem. Wet mop floors weekly and wipe surfaces to remove the lead dust. Some suggest using special detergents and discarding the mop after use. Information on detergents and cleaning protocols are readily available on the internet.

Encapsulate: The paint on the walls and ceilings are fairly safe because they are not wear surfaces. You can encapsulate these areas using modern paint applied over top.

Replace: Surfaces can be replaced rather than encapsulated. For example, you can remove and replace door jams with new wood.

Remove: Where encapsulation or wood replacement is not practical, you can remove the paint using chemical strippers. This task is time consuming and expensive and should only be done by an expert lead abatement contractor since proper containment is essential.

Posted by

Chris Livingston

Owner/Oregon Certifed Home Inspector

Pillar To Post

www.PillarToPost-PortlandWestSide.com

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