Simple Solutions to Protect Yourself, Family and Business When Working with Lead Paint

George recalls the day he got a call from his lawyer.  He was working on a job replacing windows on an old house when his lawyer called.  His lawyer informed him that one of his customers was going to sue him.  The customer stated her son had become lead poisoned.  The customer was convinced that her child was lead poisoned due to the renovation George was doing on the house.  George recalled thinking, "I may lose my business and I do not have insurance for this kind of thing".  Many insurance companies will not cover you for liability related to lead paint.  He never realized that being careless around lead paint during renovations could result in lead paint dust getting spread all around a house.  George did not think he could expose people in their homes to this hazard.  He also found out that lead dust on his shoes and clothes could result in lead dust getting brought home to his house.  This is called "take-home exposures".  George worried about his own 3 year old son at home.  He did not want his son to be exposed to lead dust brought inside by his shoes and work clothes.

George had not been feeling good either.  He had aches in his joints.  He also had problems intimately with his wife.  He suffered from impotence. George had assumed that his impotence was just because he was getting older and stressed out.  George decided to see his doctor.  His doctor told him that his blood lead level was so high that he had to be hospitalized and treated for lead poisoning.  The doctor informed him that the aches and pains and his impotence might be related to his high lead exposure.   

Lead paint for home use was not banned in the United States until 1978.  Older homes and old paint may still contain lead.

Lead is a heavy metal that was used in old paint.  Prior to 1978, it was used in both homes and industrial buildings.  When lead is swallowed or when people breathe in lead containing dust, it can harm your body.  While lead is not good for anyone, it is especially harmful to the very young.  Children can put contaminated objects in their mouths and can breathe in construction dust from home projects. Because lead poisoning may not be obvious until late in its course, most states require lead screening for young children.

Unfortunately, even with the banning of lead in new paint formulas, George's story is all  too common.  Workers who remodel and renovate old structures can be exposed to lead paint dust.  About 25% of  homes built between 1960 and 1978 will contain lead paint. Almost all homes built before 1940 will contain lead paint, often with lead pigment levels greater than 20% by weight. 

As a remodeling contractor, there are homes you will renovate that could contain high lead levels in the paint.  Worksites were recently surveyed by our research team. We found that lead-safe work practices are not always followed.  Even more dangerous, some contractors do not test older paint for the presence of lead. Our researchers found that there is a common belief that if the contractor doesn't know the paint is unsafe, the rules don't apply.  This avoidance approach will no longer absolve you from the requirement to use lead safe work practices.  If contractors do not follow these practices they will be in violation of the law.   

The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently implemented the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule (http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm), which covers residential work.  This rule applies to all homes built before 1978, even if a lead test has not been performed.  It details lead safe work practices that can help you avoid or reduce exposure to lead paint and also reduce the amount of lead you release to the environment.

So what can you do to protect yourself, family, and clients from lead exposure during renovation and remodeling?  There are many easy steps to follow to prevent exposure to lead paint.  We recommend the following:

• Receive training about lead safe work practices.
• Review the new EPA rule before you begin work at a site (http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm). 
• Comply with the EPA RRP rule. Have paint tested if the paint is more than 32 years old (before 1978). 
• Utilize good hygiene while working.  Wash your hands when finishing a job and prior to eating.
• Change your clothes and shoes when you finish a job.  This will help prevent exposure to your family when you go home.
• Wash your work clothes separately from other family clothes or have them professionally cleaned. 
• Use a proper respirator to help reduce the amount of lead containing dust you may inhale when you are cutting or sanding painted surfaces. You should check with your doctor to make sure you can safely wear a respirator.  Some people with certain lung problems cannot wear a respirator.  The best respirator to prevent you from breathing in lead dust is called a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) respirator  (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/). 
• Use a HEPA vacuum when vacuuming renovation areas to efficiently capture lead dust.  Read the manual to see if your vacuum cleaner is a HEPA vacuum and carefully follow recommendations for disposing of the bag.
• Utilize filters on your sanding and cutting tools while working at a jobsite.  
• Utilize disposable drop cloths in situations were you expect to generate a lot of dust.  Drop cloths are helpful to prevent dust from being left on surfaces.  We do not recommend re-using drop cloths when large amounts of lead dust are created.

If you think you may have been exposed to lead paint it is important to talk to your doctor.  Be sure to tell your doctor that you work on old homes and with lead-based paint.  This may be an important fact for your doctor to know. 

If you believe that your child may have been exposed, please also consult with his/her pediatrician.  While your child may have received a blood test for lead in the past as part of a routine doctor's visit, the child may have received a "take-home exposure".  Be sure to tell your pediatrician that you work with lead paint.  Your child may need another test to be sure his/her level is safe. 

Remember, lead poisoning is preventable.  Following these simple recommendations while working with lead paint will help keep you, your family, and clients safe from this hazard. 

Please feel free to visit our website at http://nj.gov/health/surv/njheavymetals/lead.shtml for further information and to reach out to your healthcare professional for any questions.

Published By Jim Blando, PhD - Assistant Professor, School of Community and Environmental Health, Old Dominion University

Terry Clancy, PhD - New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services