Lead Paint - Fact vs. Fiction

FACT: Lead poisoning is a wholly preventable disease.

What is Lead Paint?

Lead paint or lead based paint (LBP) is paint containing lead, a heavy metal, that is used as pigment, with lead (II) chromate, and lead (II) carbonate being the most common. Lead is also added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, retain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion (historically, LBP was often used in bathrooms lacking ventilation, to control mold and mildew before the introduction of exhaust fans).

In some countries, lead continues to be added to paint for domestic use, whereas, in other countries regulations exist to prohibit this practice. However, even in those countries that currently have lead use regulations. lead may still be found in older properties painted prior to the introduction of such regulations, e.g. in the U.S., U.K. and Australia.

One often overlooked source of lead paint, is a home's closet(s). Prior to 1978, it was a common practice to take and mix together all the paint left-over from a house painting project, and use it to paint the interior of closets. These closets containing lead paint are not re-painted very often, so there is a high probability that lead could still exist and be exposed.

Despite regulations, paint with significant lead content is still used in industry and by the military.For example, leaded paint is sometimes used to paint roadways and parking lot lines.

Although lead improves paint performance, it is a dangerous substance. It is especially damaging to children under six years of age, whose bodies are still developing.

FACT: Children of all races and ethnic origins are at risk of lead toxicity throughout the U.S.

FACT: Lead affects every organ of the body, and can cause nervous system damage, stunted growth, and delayed development. The neurological damage, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive toxicity attributed to lead poisoning is irreversible.

FACT: Blood levels once considered safe, are now considered hazardous, with NO known threshold.

FACT: It can take up to 5-10 years for lead poisoning to show up in learning.

FACT: There is no known antidote for damage to a child's growth and development (it is like putting a pause button on a child's learning and growth).

Lead is known to exist in soil, water, paint and dust, however, the two main sources that account for most lead poisoning cases are: 1. Deteriorating paint in dust, and 2. Contaminated soil.

FICTION: One myth related to lead-based paint is that the most common cause of poisoning was eating leaded paint chips.

FACT: The most common pathway of childhood lead exposure is through ingestion of lead dust through normal hand-ti-mouth contact during which children swallow lead dust dislodged from deteriorated paint or leaded dust generated during remodeling or painting. Lead dust from remodeling or deteriorated paint lands on the floor near where children play and can be ingested.

When learning to walk, children often place hands on surfaces covered in dust that contain deteriorated lead paint. If those children touch the lead-imbedded dust, and then place their hands near, on, or in their mouth, the lead dust can be ingested.

Lead can be found in soil near old, lead-painted houses. If children play in bare, leaded soil, or eat vegetables or fruit grown in such soil, or if leaded soil is tracked into the home and gets on children's hands or toys, lead may enter their bodies.

FACT: The Massachusetts Lead Law requires all children between 9 months and 4 years old to be screened for lead.

FICTION: Lead is ONLY dangerous for children. Lead is also dangerous for adults, and can cause reproductive and other health problems for men and women.

While young children are usually more easily and seriously poisoned than older children or adults, lead is harmful to everyone. Lead in the body of a pregnant woman can hurt her baby before birth.

Most lead poisoning in adults is caused by work-related exposure or home renovation. Even hobby supplies, such as stained glass, bullets and fishing sinkers, can expose people to lead. Lead poisoning in adults can cause high blood pressure, problems having children for both men and women, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory loss and problems concentrating, and muscle and joint pain.

FACT: The Unites State government's Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead paint in 1977.

In an announcement dated 9/2/77, "The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has culminated a major regulatory proceeding by issuing a final ban on lead-containing paint and on toys and furniture coated with such paint. This action was taken to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in children who may ingest paint chips or peelings."

Real Estate Maintenance and Renovation:

Humans can be poisoned during unsafe renovations or repainting jobs on housing that has lead paint. Therefore, it is critical to stabilize and deteriorated (peeling, shipping, cracking, etc) paint in a lead-safe manner and take precautions during the preparation for and process of repainting.

Effective, 4/22/10, the U.S. EPA now requires that all renovators who work in homes built pre 1978 and disturb more than six square-feet of lead paint be RRP certified. The new regulation will affect over 100,000 renovators across the country.

Rhode Island law dictates that a homeowner or their hired contractor, must notify neighbors within 50 feet of a structure at least 5 days in advance of any work involving the removal of lead. Before lead removal work can begin, a 20 foot cover must be placed to protect the ground and any exposed soil around the perimeter of the property.

FACT: Under Massachusetts and federal law, a "Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification Program (CLPPP)" package must be given to buyers and tenants with an option to buy homes built before 1978.

FACT: Sellers and real estate agent who do not meet these requirements can face a civil penalty of up to $1,000 under state law; a civil penalty of up to $10,000 and possible criminal sanctions under federal law, as well as, liability for resulting damages. In addition, a real estate agent who fails to meet these requirements may be liable under Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.

The property transfer notification program began in 1988 and has been very successful. It provides information you need to protect your child, or your tenants' child, from lead poisoning.

FACT: Under Massachusetts state Lead Law, a new owner of a home built before 1978 in which a child under six will live or continue to live must have it either deleaded or brought under interim control within 90 days of taking title.

FACT: There is financial help for deleading in Massachusetts.

There is a state income tax credit of up to $1,500 per unit for full deleading. A credit of up to $500 per unit is available for interim control work that also contributes to full deleading. There are also a number of grants and no-interest, deferred loans, or low-interest loans available to eligible property owners. These funds are available through the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, the MA Housing Finance Authority, local city and town community development planning departments, and banks.

FACT: Ignorance regarding the existence of lead paint is NOT a legal defense in many states, including Rhode Island.

Lead Poisoning Treatment:

Treatment of a lead poisoned child starts with finding and removing the lead hazard to which the child is exposed. This will include a lead inspection of the child's home, and if lead hazards are identified, deleading of the home. Medical treatment depends on the child's blood lead level and the child's response to the removal of the lead source. If necessary, the child may receive special drugs to help rid his or her body of excess lead. With this treatment, drugs are given daily for as long as several weeks (Sometimes this is done more than once). A child who has been lead poisoned will need a lot of blood tests for a year or more. He or she should be tested for learning problems before starting school.

A list of private lead inspectors and risk assesors licensed by the Department of Public Health can be found on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program's website at www.state.ma.us/dph/clppp.