United States
                Environmental Protection
                Agency (EPA)
Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances
(7404)
EPA747-F-01-002
April 2001
(http ://www.epa .gov/lead)
 oEPA  FACT SHEET
    Identifying  Lead Hazards in Residential Properties

EPA has developed standards to help property owners, lead paint professionals and government agencies identify
lead hazards in residential paint, dust, and soil. These hazards may be paint chips, lead in household dust, child-
accessible or mouthable painted surfaces, friction surfaces of windows and doors, and lead in residential soil. The
Agency has released this fact sheet to summarize new standards and recommendations to better address lead
hazards in and around homes. The complete text of the final rule is available  through the National Lead
Information Center or EPA 's Web Site (see For More Information).
                  LEAD PAINT HAZARD
                      STANDARDS
      Lead paint is usually not a hazard if the paint:
      - is in good condition, and
      - is not on an impact or friction surface (like a
      window, door or stair).
WHAT MAKES LEAD PAINT A HAZARD:
- The lead paint is deteriorating.  As the paint
breaks down, it releases paint chips and lead dust
that can contaminate the home and be easily
ingested by young children through hand-to-mouth
activity.

This deteriorated lead paint may be inside
residential buildings or child-occupied facilities or
on the exterior of any residential building or child-
occupied facility.

- The lead paint is on friction or impact surfaces.
Impact to surfaces like door frames or stairs can
damage the  paint and release lead.  Also, the
paint on friction surfaces like windows, stairs, and
floors can  break down  during normal  use and
release lead.

- 77)6 lead paint is on child-accessible  surfaces
that show evidence of teeth marks.  Be aware of
lead paint on surfaces such  as window  sills,
railings,  and stair edges that are at child height
and have been or may be chewed on or mouthed
by a child.

All testing for, and  identification of,  lead
hazards  should  be  completed  per  EPA
regulations.

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                  LEAD DUST HAZARD
                       STANDARDS
The following two standards have been set for
lead hazards in dust:

*40 micrograms per square foot (ug/ft2) for floors
(including carpeted floors)

* 250 ug/ft2 for interior window sills
                    LEAD SOIL HAZARD
                        STANDARDS
The following two standards have been set for lead
hazards in soil:

* 400 parts per million (ppm) in play areas of bare
residential soil

* 1,200 ppm (average) in bare soil in the remainder of
the yard
                   LEAD ABATEMENT
                       CLEARANCE
                     REQUIREMENTS
Following lead abatement, dust cleanup activities
must be repeated until testing indicates that lead dust
levels are below the following:

* 40 ug/ft2 for floors (including carpeted floors);

* 250 ug/ft2 for interior window sills; and

* 400 ug/ft2 for window troughs.
THIS REGULATION AFFECTS...
The standards established in this regulation apply
to most  pre-1978  housing and child-occupied
facilities  (pre-1978 non-residential  properties
where children  under  the age of  six spend  a
significant amount of time  such  as  daycare
centers and kindergartens).

Anyone  who  must comply with other Title  X
regulations, whether issued by EPA, HUD or by a
State under an  authorized program,  may be
affected  by this  regulation.   The following list
identifies some of the groups potentially affected
by these standards:

- Residential and child-occupied property owners,
and owners receiving federal housing assistance
- Lead paint professionals
- Training providers
- Federal agencies
- Parents

WHAT HAPPENS IF A LEAD HAZARD Is IDENTIFIED?
Property owners are required to notify occupants
if they are aware of lead, whether or  not it  is
identified as a hazard.  However, this regulation
does not require anyone to identify lead hazards,
or that any specific action be taken if a  lead
hazard is identified. Please refer to the Protect
Your Family brochure  available  through  the
National  Lead Information Center for further
information  on  disclosure  of  lead  hazards to
residents.

Owners and otherdecision-makers should actively
seek to reduce or prevent children's exposure to
lead in paint, dust, or soil that equals or exceeds
these hazard levels. The Protect Your Family
brochure provides some of these options.

State, local  or  tribal  governments may have
different  standards or  requirements.    EPA
recommends you contact them before beginning
any work with lead paint.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
* The National Lead Information Center at
  1-800~424-LEAD(5323)
                                                  * EPA's web site at www.epa.gov/lead

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