illi . *<••• ." -: ^ jJMJr.^- ^--••-^"'S-?-".=^^ "-V; !~..???'1 •-:?•"' .*-'-"• - •.. j??''= ililiil S-EPA
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Are You Planning To Buy, Rent, or Renovate
a Home Built Before 1978?
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.
By 1996, federal law will require that individuals receive certain
information before renting, buying, or renovating pre-1978
housing:
LANDLORDS will have to disclose known
information on lead-based paint hazards
before leases take effect. Leases will
include a federal form about lead-based
paint.
SELLERS will have to disclose known infor-
mation on lead-based paint hazards before
selling a house. Sales contracts will include
a federal form about lead-based paint in
the building. Buyers will have up to 10
days to check for lead hazards.
RENOVATORS will have to give you this
pamphlet before starting work.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION
on these requirements, call the
National Lead Information Clearinghouse
at 1-800-424-LEAD.
This document is in the public domain. It may be reproduced by an individual
or organization without permission. Information provided in this booklet is
based upon current scientific and technical understanding of the issues present-
ed and is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes
governing the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not neces-
sarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards
that can be caused by lead exposure.
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FACT: Lead exposure can harm young
children and babies even before they
are born. '
FACT: Even children that 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 with lead
in them.
FACT: People have many options for reducing
lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based
paint that is in good condition
is not a hazard.
FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly
can increase the danger to your family.
If you think your home might have lead
hazards, read this pamphlet to learn some
simple steps to protect your family.
------- Lead Gets in the Body in Many Ways 1 out of every 11 children in the United States has dangerous levels of lead in the blood- stream. Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead. People can get lead in their body if they: 4- Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths. 4 Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead. 4 Breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces). Lead is even more dangerous to children than adults because: 4 Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them. 4- Children's growing bodies absorb more lead. 4 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
41 Digestive problems
+ Nerve disorders
+ Memory and concentration
problems
& Muscle and joint pain
rain or Nerve Damage
Digestive
Problems
Reproductive
Problems
(Adults)
Hearing
Problems
Lead affects the
ways.
------- Checking Your Family for Lead Get your children tested if you think your home has high levels of lead. A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead. Blood tests 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 members 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 In general the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. 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. 4- 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.)
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Lead-based paint that is in good condition
is usually not a hazard.
Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking
lead-based paint is a hazard and needs
immediate attention.
Lead-based paint may also be a hazard
when found on surfaces that children can
chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear.
These areas include:
^ Windows and window sills.
* Doors and door frames.
& Stairs, railings, and banisters.
^ Porches and fences.
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint
is dry scraped, dry sanded, 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. Call your state agency
(see page 12) to find out about soil
testing for lead.
can see, and
dust
which you
can't always
see, can both
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Checking Your Home for Lead Hazard
s
Just knowing
that a home
has lead-*
based paint
may not tell
you if there
is a hazard.
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 pro-
fessionals in your area (see page 12).
Trained professionals use a range of meth-
ods when checking your home, including:
*• Visual inspection of paint condition and
location.
4- Lab tests of paint samples.
+ Surface dust tests.
4- A portable x-ray fluorescence machine.
Home test kits for lead are available, but
recent studies suggest that they are not
always accurate. Consumers should not rely
on these tests before doing renovations or to
assure safety.
------- 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 peel- ing or chipping paint 4- Clean up paint chips immediately. • ------- How To Significantly Reduce Lead Hazards Removing lead improperly can increase the hazard to your family by spreading even more lead dust around the house. Always use a professional who is trained to remove lead hazards safety. In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good nutrition: *• You can temporarily reduce lead haz- ards by taking actions such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover soil with high lead levels. These actions (called Interim controls") are not permanent solutions 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, sealing, or enclosing lead- based paint with special materials. Just painting 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 your state agency (see page 12) for help with locating qualified contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.
-------
ga
Take precautions before you begin remod-
eling or renovations that disturb painted
surfaces (such as scraping off paint or tear-
ing 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 (espe-
cially children and pregnant women)
out of the apartment or house until
the work is done and the area is prop-
erly cleaned. If you can't move your
family, at least completely seal off the
work area.
4- Follow other safety measures to reduce paint and dust
certain types
of renovations
can release
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 renova-
tions or remodeling that could have
released lead-based paint or dust, get
your young children tested and follow
the steps outlined on page 7 of this
brochure.
Into the air.
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Other Sources of Lead
While paint, dust,
and soil are the
most common
lead hazards,
other lead
sources also exist
Drinking water. Your home might have
plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call
your local health department or water
supplier to find out about testing your
water. You cannot see, smell, or taste
lead, and boiling your water will not get
rid of lead. If you think your plumbing
might have lead in it:
• Use only cold water for drinking
and cooking.
• Run water for 15 to 30 seconds
before drinking it, especially if you
have not used your water for a few
hours.
The job. If you work with lead, you
could bring it home on your hands or
clothes. Shower and change clothes
before coming home. Launder your
clothes separately from the rest of your
family's.
Old painted toys and furniture.
Food and liquids stored in lead crystal
or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
Lead smelters or other industries that
release lead into the air.
Hobbies that use lead, such as making
pottery or stained glass, or refinishirig
furniture.
Folk remedies that contain lead, such
as "greta" and "azarcon" used to treat an
upset stomach.
------- The National Lead Information Center Call 1-800-LEAD-FYI to leam how to protect children from lead poisoning. For other information on lead haz- ards, call the center's clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD. For the hearing impaired, call, TDD 1-800-526-5456 (FAX: 202-659-1192, Internet: EHC@CAIS.COM). EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline Call 1-800-426-4791 for information about lead in drinking water. Consumer Product Safety Commission Hotline To request information on lead in consumer products/or to report an unsafe consumer product or a product-related injury call 1-800-638-2772. (Internet: info@cpsc.gov). For the hearing impaired, call TDD 1-800-638-8270 Local Sources of Information ------- State Health and Environmental Agencies Some cities and states have their own rules for lead-based paint activities. Check with your state agency (listed below) to see if state or local laws apply to you. Most state agencies can also provide information on finding a lead abatement firm in your area, and on possible sources of financial aid for reducing lead hazards. State/Region Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Washington, DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Phone Number (205) 242-5661 (907) 465-5152 (501) 661-2534 (602) 542-7307 (510) 450-2424 (303) 692-3012 (203) 566-5808 (202) 727-9850 (302) 739-4735 (904) 488-3385 (404) 657-6514 (808) 832-5860 (208) 332-5544 (800) 545-2200 (317) 382-6662 (800) 972-2026 (913) 296-0189 (502) 564-2154 (504) 765-0219 (800) 532-9571 (410) 631-3859 (207) 287-4311 (517) 335-8885 (612) 627-5498 (601) 960-7463 Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming (314) 526-4911 (406) 444-3671 (402) 471-2451 (702) 687-6615 (603) 271-4507 (609) 633-2043 (505) 841-8024 (800)458-1158 (919) 715-3293 (701) 328-5188 (614) 466-'J450 (405) 271-5220 (503) 248-5240 (717) 782-2884 (401) 277-3424 (803) 935-7945 (605) 773-3153 (615) 741-5683 (512) 834-6600 (801) 536-4000 (802) 863-7231 (800) 523-4019 (206) 753-2556 (304) 558-2981 (608) 266-5885 (307) 777-7391 ------- Your Regional EPA Office can provide further information regarding regulations and lead protection programs. EPA Regional Offices Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) John F. Kennedy Federal Building One Congress Street Boston, MA 02203 (617) 565-3420 Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) Buildings 2890 Woodbridge Avenue Edison, NJ 08837-3679 (908)321-6671 Region 3 (Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 597-9800 Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30365 (404)347-4727 Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604-3590 (312) 886-6003 Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) First Interstate Bank Tower 1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202-2733 (214) 665-7244 Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 (913)551-7020 Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) 999 18th Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202-2405 (303) 293-1603 Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada) 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 744-1124 Region 10 (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska) 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-1200 Eastern Regional Center 6 World Trade Center Vesey Street, Room 350 New York, NY 10048 (212) 466-1612 Central Regional Center 230 South Dearborn Street Room 2944 Chicago, IL 60604-1601 (312) 353-8260 •h U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1996-409-803 Western Regional Center 600 Harrison Street, Room 245 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 744-2966
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Simple Steps To Protect Ybur Family
From Lead Hazards
If you think your home has high
levels of lead:
* Get your young children tested for lead, even if
they seem healthy.
4 Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys
often.
+ Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods.
+ Get your home checked for lead hazards.
+ Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other
surfaces.
4- Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.
4- Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with
peeling or chipping paint.
4- Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust
when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-
LEAD for guidelines).
4 Don't use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry
scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces
that may contain lead.
4 Don't try to remove lead-based paint
yourself.
Q Recycled/Recyclable
^ft'Printed on paper, that contains at least 20 percent pqstconsumer fiqen
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