Lead Paint Guides

Lead Paint Disclosure - ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUY, RENT, OR RENOVATE A HOME BUILT BEFORE 1978?  Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. In 1996, federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting, buying, or renovating pre-1978 housing.

SIMPLE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM LEAD HAZARDS

If you think your home has high levels of lead:

- Get your young children tested for lead, even if they seem healthy.

- Get your home checked for lead hazards.

- Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.

- Ask landlord to fix surfaces with peeling / chipped paint.

- Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.

- Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods.

- Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.

- Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-LEAD for guidelines).

- Don't use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.

- Don't try to remove lead-based paint yourself.

LANDLORDS will have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases will include a federal form about lead-based paint. Get the Free EPA LEAD BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE form.

SELLERS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts include a federal form about lead-based paint in the building. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards.

RENOVATORS will have to give you this pamphlet before starting work.

For more information on these requirements
call the National Lead Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD.

FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.

FACT: Even children that seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.

FACT: People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.

FACT: People have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.

FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.

• Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths.
• Eat paint chips or soil that contain lead.
• Breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces).

• Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
• Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
• Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

Children: If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity)
• Slowed growth
• Hearing problems
• Headaches

• Difficulties during pregnancy
• Other reproductive problems (in both men and women)
• High blood pressure
• Digestive problems
• Nerve disorders
• Memory and concentration problems
• Muscle and joint pain

A LEAD TEST CAN BE PERFORMED BY YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN.