Course: BLD 168 Strategies for Safe Handling of Hazardous Substances

Reading

Lead-Based Paint

Federal standards define lead-based paint.

- Lead-based paint is any paint or surface coatings that contain lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 milligram per square centimeter or more than 0.5 percent by weight.
- Paint with concentrations of lead lower than the definition above can still cause health problems. Even paint with a small amount of lead can account for a lot of lead in airborne or settled dust.

Some states and localities regulate paint with lower concentrations of lead.

- You should check with your state and local health departments to see if they have requirements that are more stringent than the Federal requirements.

Why was lead added to paint?

- Lead was added for color and durability.
- Lead was also added to some other surface coatings, such as varnishes and stains.

Lead-based paint was banned from residential use in 1978.

- In 1978, the Consumer Products Safety Commission banned the sale of lead-based paint for residential use. In practice, this means that homes built in 1978 could still have used lead-based paint, because existing supplies of paint containing lead would still have been available.
- This is why the year of construction is such an important consideration.

Please click and download the following articles and read them about Lead-Based Paint.
Click on the item below to download Steps to LEAD SAFE document
- Steps to LEAD SAFE Renovation Repair and Painting.pdf (6.58 MB)

Click on the item below to download Renovate Right document
- Renovate Right_Important Lead Hazard Informaiton for Families Child Care Providers and Schools.pdf (7.34 MB)

Click on the item below to download Paint Chip Sample Collection Guide
- Paint Chip Sample Collection Guide.pdf (209.97 KB)

Click on the item below to download U.S. Department of Housing Requirements
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development Requirements.pdf (74.37 KB)