Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead also can be emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk
Recently, law was passed to require contractors who disturb lead-based paint in homes, child-care facilities and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Although the law applies to 79 million houses, just 38 million of those are believed to have lead paint. That law took effect April 22, but in late June, the EPA said it would delay enforcement of the law until October because there weren't enough government-approved trainers needed to certify thousands of contractors. That enforcement deadline has now been extended to Dec. 30.
By early July, 320,000 contractors had been certified. There had been an "opt-out" clause that allowed consumers to permit contractors to bypass extra preparation, cleanup and record-keeping requirements in homes where there were no children under 6 years old or pregnant women, thus avoiding additional costs. That provision expired July 6, and the EPA had no plans to reinstate it. The National Association of Homebuilders and others filed suit to force the EPA to reinstate the opt-out rule.
The law states that a hazardous condition exists when lead-paint dust is present on a floor to the extent of 40 micrograms (one millionth of a gram) in a square-foot area. Another way of expressing it is if a square centimeter lead-based paint chip were ground into dust, it would (by EPA standards) contaminate 25 square feet of floor space. The feds require the "proper" containment and cleanup when six or more square feet of lead-based paint will be "disturbed" in a home.
The EPA suggests consumers ask to see certification before they sign a contract. Since December 2008, contractors have been required by law to supply a brochure to customers outlining the dangers and rules.
If your home was built prior to 1978, it could contain lead paint. There could be extra costs associated with a remodelling project for testing and remediation of lead paint, so please talk to your contractor about this before any paint is disturbed in your home.
Sources: RIS Media (c) 2010, The Philadelphia Inquirer.Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, and the EPA.
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