What level is dangerous? Many doctors mistakenly believe that a blood-lead level under 25 micrograms per deciliter (written “25 ug/dl”) is safe. But the CDC is about to establish 10 ug/dl as the level above which some sort of action should be taken. A child with a blood-lead level of 10-15 ug/dl is not in imminent health danger but should be tested again three months later. If the lead level has not declined, the family should take steps to pinpoint and remove hazards by cleaning thoroughly and testing paint, drinking water and other potential sources (below). Make sure your child gets enough iron and calcium. If the level is more than 15 jig/dl check with a doctor for a nutritional and medical assessment.
If your home was built before 1950, you probably have some lead paint, but others may have it, too. The Northeast, Midwest and Western states have more lead than the South.
If your local health department won’t test, two home kits have been rated by Consumers Union to be effective tests for highly leaded painted surfaces. LeadCheck Swabs are sold by HybriVet Systems Inc. (800-262-LEAD). Frandon Lead Alert Kit is sold by Frandon Enterprises, Inc. (800-359-9000).
If your child’s blood-lead level is below 10 jig/dl and the house has no cracking, peeling paint, don’t panic. Odds are, renovations to remove the paint will just increase the dust level. Scrutinize windowsills, baseboards and doorframes, where friction grinds up the paint layers and creates lead dust. Watch for dust, not just peeling. To remove the dust, damp-mop or wipe with a high-phosphate detergent. Ask for trisodium phosphate washes (TSP) at paint or hardware stores. (It may not be available in some states.) Consider joining with other tenants or homeowners to buy a HEPAvac (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtered Vacuum), which costs about $1,000, for an occasional superscrubbing, or check with the health department to see if one can be rented. Other experts recommend scrubbing with a TSP-drenched sponge. Or use a wet-and-dry or shop vacuum with this procedure: sponge down all smooth surfaces with TS soap twice. Wet-mop the same surfaces using a solution of diluted high-phosphate soap. Make sure the surfaces are plenty wet and then clean with the shop vacuum.
Do not attempt a full-scale abatement yourself. If tests show you have a major hazard, hire a qualified contractor. An improperly done abatement will make things worse. The safest approach is encapsulating, covering or removing painted structures entirely. Scraping or using a heat gun can be trouble if done improperly. Power sanding and open-flame burning are almost always dangerous. Complete removal can cost thousands of dollars, but you might significantly reduce the hazard by replacing doors, window frames or contaminated carpeting, or by putting up wallpaper or paneling. Consult the health department about what to do with the leaded waste.
If your local health department doesn’t have a list of recommended contractors, try the regional office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. On the East Coast, call the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industry (617-727-1932), or Maryland’s Department of Environment (301-631-3859). Some contractors may be listed in the phone book under lead, others under asbestos. Grill them to ensure they’re qualified: Have they been through a special lead-paint-abatement training program? What kind of cleanup do they do? What kind of precautions do they take for workers?
If you have lead-based paint, the safest approach is to send kids away from home until work is done and the house has been thoroughly cleaned. If that’s impossible, seal off the rooms being renovated and clean well.
Watch out during warm weather when children play on the porch or in a front yard. People can also track lead dust into the house.
Most inspections do not test for lead paint. Try to test and abate before you move in.
Ask your local water supplier for the names of EPA-certified laboratories that will test your water for $15 to $35. EPA considers water safe if it has less than 15 parts per billion of lead, although some doctors and advocacy groups call for less than 10. You should test if you have water from a drinking well, pipes with lead solder or water known to be very corrosive. EPA has a safe-drinking-water hot line that may help answer questions (800-426-4791). If water has too much lead, reduce risk by running the faucet for a minute. When cooking or washing vegetables use cold water, which is less likely to pick up lead. Be wary of water-filter scam artists; most filters don’t work on lead.
