EZ Strip Blog: What You Need To Know About Lead

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in WASHINGTON, DC on February 18, 2014 announced enforcement actions that will require 35 home renovation contractors and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Standards. These standards provide important, front-line protection for children and others vulnerable to exposure to lead dust that can cause lead poisoning. Follow this link to see the list of contracting companies involved and the recorded violations committed. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-rule-february-2014

Lead Where Is It?

Lead is found in lead-based paints, including paint on the walls of old houses and toys. It is also found in:

art supplies
contaminated dust
gasoline products sold outside of the United States and Canada

Who is the most at risk?

Lead exposure affects the nervous system and can cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and younger are most at risk. 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
Anemia
In rare cases of acute lead poisoning from ingestion of lead, seizures, coma and even death.

Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stores in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from bones as maternal calcium is used to help form the bones of the fetus. This is particularly true if a woman does not have enough dietary calcium. Lead can also be easily circulated from the mother's blood stream through the placenta to the fetus. Mothers with high levels of lead in their bodies can expose their developing fetuses, resulting in serious and developmental problems including:

Miscarriages,
Premature births or low birth weight,
Brain damage, decreased mental abilities and learning difficulties, and/or
Reduced growth in young children.

What can I do?

If your concerned about lead exposure in your home test it. The most common route of exposure to lead is damaged lead based paint in older homes. Damaged paint, chips and turns into a fine dust that can be breathed in. Test kits are available at most local hardware stores and are easy to use. If your paint tests positive for lead consider hiring a certified remediation contractor to complete safe removal and disposal. Visit here to learn more about lead in your home https://www.epa.gov/lead