Lead FAQ
Do home lead paint test kits work?
No. To identify lead paint in your home a home test kit will not work. Home lead paint test kits only look at the very top layer of paint so if the surface has ever been painted over since 1978 it will show zero lead even if there are many layers of lead paint just below the surface layer. If you are disturbing a painted surface you must know if ANY layer of paint contains lead; for this reason a home lead paint test kit will not give you the information you need to be safe.
How to identify lead paint?
There is no way to recognize lead paint by looking at it. Identifying lead paint typically requires testing at a lab. There, a chip of paint that includes all layers of paint (not just the surface ones) can be analyzed to identify lead paint. This chip analysis is cost effective if you are concerned about a very limited area.
In a single room the paint may differ between walls, doors, trim, ceiling, window casings, etc. For this reason, a typical lead paint inspection of an entire home often needs more than 100 samples to be thorough. For this type of lead inspection, a certified lead inspector can test surfaces with a handheld lead paint detector called an XRF analyzer.
When was lead paint banned?
Lead was very commonly added to paint for decades to make it more durable until it was finally banned in 1978. If your home was built prior to 1978 it is likely to contain lead-based paint underneath layers of non-lead containing paint.
How dangerous is lead paint?
Lead is a toxin that is dangerous to humans in even very tiny doses. Lead paint is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women, because it can affect development and cause lifelong health issues. In children and embryos, lead paint exposure can have serious effects on a developing brain leading to behavior problems, hyperactivity, and lower IQ. For adults, lead can cause reproductive issues in both men and women and high blood pressure.
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How does lead paint cause lead exposure?
Our exposure to lead in paint is normally from breathing in or ingesting dust formed when lead paint is broken down. This is particularly likely when lead paint is t is disturbed during a home (or furniture) renovation project.
How do you limit lead paint exposure?
You can limit lead paint exposure by keeping painted surfaces inside and outside well maintained and keeping your home as dust-free as possible. Do NOT sand painted surfaces — many children are lead-poisoned by well meaning DIY projects. Don’t forget that the paint on an older piece of furniture may be lead paint. Using a heat gun to strip lead paint is extremely dangerous as the lead will be vaporized and you will breathe it in.
Another place to watch is the drip line (the ground beneath any eaves without gutters) around your home, as this is where lead paint chips fall. Keep this area covered by clean mulch and do not garden there. If you are considering any work that disturbs paint inside our outside of your home, use a Lead-Safe Certified contractor.
What to do if you have been exposed to lead paint?
If you believe that you or your child have been exposed to lead paint, you should talk to your doctor who can give you a blood test for lead. There are treatments to help lower the effects of lead exposure. Additionally, you should find the source of lead exposure by having a lead inspection done on your entire home inside and outside, including soil and water.
Can you paint over lead paint?
Yes, lead paint can be painted over. If you are not removing the lead paint it is in fact important to keep that lead paint locked down with non-lead paint. But you must be very careful if you are disturbing the lead paint in any way as part of your preparation to paint. If painting over lead paint involves cleaning, scraping, sanding you must follow lead-safe work practices to stay safe.
Never use a heat gun to strip paint that could be lead, as the lead will be vaporized and you will be exposed. In addition, sand blasting the exterior of your home can contaminate your entire neighborhood with lead, if your exterior paint is lead-based. Whenever you are planning for home renovation work, use contractors who are Lead-Safe Certified and who actively follow lead-safe practices.
How is lead paint removal performed?
Lead paint can be safely removed from a home but should be done by certified professional, like the lead removal professionals at Cromwell Environmental. Workers removing lead paint should have PPE to protect them, including a HEPA filtered respirator and disposable Tyvek type suits.
The area of lead paint removal must be isolated from the rest of your home and the HVAC turned off. A HEPA air filter is used to establish negative pressure containment to ensure that no dust from inside the work area can get out to the rest of the home. Using water in the removal process additionally helps workers to control dust inside the work area.
Lead-contaminated debris is often considered hazardous waste and legally needs to be disposed of accordingly. When lead paint removal is complete, the area will be thoroughly cleaned and HEPA vacuumed and surfaces can be tested to make sure that no lead-containing dust remains.