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Health & Fitness

Is Lead Paint A Hazard To Your Family?

When remodeling, the disturbance of lead paint can be a potential hazard to your family. Make sure to know the proper steps to protect yourself.

Last week, October 21-27, 2012, was National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.  The week is observed to focus on the importance of educating parents and children about lead, especially from lead paint hazards in homes.  As a remodeling contractor, we do encounter lead based paint and other products, and recognize that care must be used to protect our clients and their families.

Hundreds of thousands of children living in the United States have elevated blood lead levels that may cause significant damage to their health. They can develop behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems, and aggressive patterns of behavior. Stopping a child’s exposure to lead from leaded paint, house dust, or any other source is the best way to prevent the harmful effects of lead. 

Recently, the EPA put in place a rule that states anyone who is performing painting, renovation, or repairs in homes built pre-1978 must be certified to perform such work in a lead safe manner. If you hire anyone to work in your pre-1978 home, consider asking them for credentials to ensure that they will take the safety of you and your family into account.  The photo attached shows one of the required EPA credentials for contractors to posess when working on pre-1978 homes.

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There are several DIY test kits approved by the EPA for home testing. The one shown here is D-Lead, and uses solution vials to test paint which we extract form surfaces to be disturbed. Another popular approved kit is Lead Check Swabs.  If using such kits in a DIY application, it is advisable to research the best practices for testing thoroughly.

What more can you do with the awarenwss of lead poisioning risks?

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- Ensure that your children receive lead screening.  The highest risk is among children younger than 6 years of age. It is preferred to complete screening  by ages 1 and 2.  

- Take steps to reduce lead exposure in your home, which includes using care when performing DIY painting and renovations, as well as when hiring any contractor. Ensure your contractors are certified renovators and follow EPA protocols.

- Have a lead paint assessment completed in your home to ensure there are no existing hazards.

- More info: http://www.leadfreekids.org/

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