Lead Based Paint

Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint.  In 1978, the federal government banned lead-based paint from housing.

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.

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 re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.

People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.  Some of the ways this may occur are:

    put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths,
    eat paint chips or soil that contain lead;
    breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces)

This information came from the pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home, prepared by the EPA, dated May, 1995

If you would like a copy of the full pamphlet, give Sharon a call or e-mail.