Lead based paint has been used in hundreds of different
household items from furniture to toys to the paint on the house. According to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, "about two thirds of all homes built before 1940 and one-half
of the homes built from 1940 to 1960 contain heavily-leaded paint." After more health problems were traced to
the consumption of lead based paint, legislature began to develop against the
use of lead in paint. In 1971 the first
laws in the United States were implemented to regulate lead based paint until
finally, in 1978 it was banned altogether.
Depending on what the situation is, there are several ways
to find out if your home contains lead based paint. When buying or renting a new residence built
before 1978, federal law states that new tenants be notified of any lead based
paint. Real-estate sales contracts must
include a specific warning statement about lead based paint. After receiving notice, buyers have 10 days
to test for lead based paint. Finally,
landlords must disclose known information on lead based paint and lead based
paint hazards before the lease legally takes effect.
If you feel at risk, have small children or are pregnant,
and simply want to know if lead based paint needs to be a concern, you need to
have samples tested. Much like asbestos,
only a lab analysis can determine the lead content of the paint. Sampling can be done by the homeowner or by a
professional. Sampling paint and soil
from your own home can be completed in a few short steps. Before beginning remember a few things. When testing paint, include every layer, lead
is usually the deepest layer of paint.
It is important to test areas where children spend a majority of their
time since they are significantly more susceptible to lead exposure. Also, when sampling, test several different
places like the window sill, base boards, doors, playrooms, etc. If you decide to sample on your own, the lab
testing should cost about $25 each to analyze.
These samples should only be sent to an accredited lab. The lab should have the results within 24-48
hours of receiving the sample. Be sure
to keep a list of where samples were taken from.
When physically taking the paint samples from around the
house, you will need is a zip-lock bag and a clean scraper. Take the clean bag and place it under the
area you are attempting to sample. Use
the clean scraper to extract one tablespoon of paint into the bag. Once again, remember to scrape as many layers
of paint as is built up. Seal the bag
and add a label. The label should say
what part of the house the sample was taken.
Sampling soil is equally important as sampling rooms in the
house. Parents of children know how much
time is spent outside and how easily soil can wind up in a child’s mouth or get
tracked through the house. Take another
zip-lock bag along with a large spoon to sample the soil. Scoop half a cup of soil from the top inch of
bare soil you want to test. Be sure that
the sample does not include any other debris that may be in the dirt, unless
there are paint chips which are allowed to stay in the sample. Once again, seal and label the bag, noting where
the sample was taken from. Smart places
to sample outside are directly by the foundation of the house, close to any
traffic, or under children’s swing. Once
all the samples have been taken, wash hands thoroughly.
Sampling can be done by the homeowner or a
professional. A professional lead based
paint inspection will result in a written report indicating where hazards
exist. The inspection companies may use
what is known as a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine that gives
immediate analysis or they may send paint samples to a lab for analysis. So, whether you take your own samples, or
hire a professional it is important to know your risk for lead exposure in your
home.
Contact Midwest Environmental Control for a free estimate. (419) 382-9200
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