Before you start, please remember, that there are millions of homes with lead
based paint and although it would be much better if the paint weren't present,
millions of people occupy these homes. You and many of your family and friends,
most likely, live in these homes. Most of mine do including two of my daughters
and grandchildren! They can be occupied safely provided you learn what the
issues are. The first lesson you need to learn is that the issue is not the presence
of lead based paint, but the presence of lead based paint hazards. These hazards
can be dealt with and the home can be safely occupied if you learn how.
Per the EPA: The
Federal Lead-Based Paint and Lead-Based Paint Hazards Disclosure Rule requires
that the seller of a residential dwelling built prior to 1978 must disclose
known information on lead-based paint and lead based paint hazards before
selling a home. Sales contracts must include a disclosure form about lead-based
paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards. Renovators must give you a pamphlet titled "Protecting
Your Family from Lead in Your Home", before starting work.
A buyer must be given the opportunity to conduct testing to determine whether
lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards are present. While you are not
required by law to test for lead, it may be advisable if you have (or plan to
have) young children in the home.
Per the CDC: The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention consider lead poisoning to be the #1
environmental health threat to American children. It is easy for poisonous lead
dust to contaminate your home. Lead is especially dangerous to children and
women who are (or wish to become) pregnant.
Per Chris: "If you
don't have a home constructed before 1978 tested and inspected to confirm that it does not
have lead-based paint hazards (most buyers don't, because of the cost of testing,
inspection and abatement)
you should assume the home has lead based paint hazards (most do) and act accordingly.
Links below will give you information you need to live in this home. This is a
serious issue and it is imperative, especially if you have or expect to have small
children, to
educate yourself about the dangers of lead-based paint hazards.
Although there is much information available about lead based paint hazards
on the Internet, the best site belongs to you. That's right, your taxes have
paid for it and it is located at: http://www.epa.gov/lead/
You can read an article I wrote at Lead Paint In Homes
Here are some quick links to great EPA publications on the subject in PDF
format. You can read online, print or download and print as you need them (If
you can't view these documents, see the instructions at the bottom of this
article):
Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide: http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadrev.pdf
Testing Your Home for Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil: http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadtest.pdf
Finding a Qualified Lead Professional for Your Home: http://www.epa.gov/lead/broch32e.pdf
Lead Poisoning and Your Children: http://www.epa.gov/lead/lpandyce.pdf
Protecting Your Family From Lead in Your Home: http://epa.gov/lead/leadpdfe.pdf
Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home: http://epa.gov/lead/rrpamph.pdf
Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings
around the Home: http://www.epa.gov/lead/tentips.pdf
The Lead Based Paint Pre-Renovation Education Rule: A Handbook fro
Contractors, Property Managers, and Maintenance Personnel: http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm#resources
Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Paint, Home Maintenance, and
Renovation Work: http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadsafetybk.pdf
You and your clients already own these
publications, your taxes paid for them, why not make use of them? Feel free to print
and distribute all of the copies you
desire, they are yours.
Note: These documents are pdf files. To view these documents, Adobe Acrobat
Reader™ software is required. Download
a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader™ by clicking on the link.
