Consider Lead Risk Hazard When Undertaking Repairs and Renovations in Older Homes

Live in a home that was built in the Toledo area before 1978?  You must be very careful in the process that you use to repaint to prevent household contamination that could be harmful to children and adults alike.

Two thirds of all homes built before 1940 contain lead paint. Half of the residences built between 1940 and 1960 contain lead paint. Lead based paint was not banned until 1978 and some houses and apartments built in the 1960s and 1970s may have lead based paint.

Unfortunately renovation and repair projects can disturb old lead paint creating dust and lead particles that can become air borne and pose a critical health hazard when children are exposed to and breathe or ingest the dust. Sanding, scraping or sawing can create dust containing lead and precautions should be consider when considering any do yourself repair or renovation project in an apartment, house or dwelling built before 1978.

Old lead paint that is properly sealed and undisturbed does not pose a hazard.

For more information see:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5055.html

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

http://www.paint.org/pubs/dontspreadlead_english.pdf