LEAD & LEAD-BASED PAINT Q&A
Some people have misconceptions about lead and lead-based paint. This page is to help possibly detect it, where to look for it, and let you know what to do if you think you may have an issue. If you still have questions after reading through this handout, please give Malmstrom AFB Homes (406) 315-2262 or the Military Housing Office (406) 731-3446 a call.
LEAD & LEAD-BASED PAINT
What is lead?
Lead is a naturally-occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, causing health effects.
Where is lead found?
Lead can be found in all parts of our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Much of our exposure comes from human activities like the use of fossil fuels, including past use of leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities and past use of lead-based paint in homes. Lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition and cosmetics.
Lead may enter the environment from these past and current uses. Lead can also be emitted into the environment from industrial sources and contaminated sites, such as former lead smelters. While natural levels of lead in soil range between 50 and 400 parts per million, mining, smelting, and refining activities have resulted in substantial increases in lead levels in the environment, especially near mining and smelting sites. Lead may move from soil into ground water depending on the type of lead compound and the characteristics of the soil.
Federal and state regulatory standards have helped to reduce the amount of lead in air, drinking water, soil, consumer products, food and occupational settings.
How to make your home lead-safe
• Check your home
• Maintain your home’s condition
• Test your home's drinking water
If your home was built before 1978, have your home tested for lead and learn about potential lead hazards. Fix any hazards that you may have. You can get your home checked in one or both of the following ways:
• A paint inspection will tell you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home, but does not tell you if the paint is a
hazard or how to deal with it. This is most appropriate when you are buying a home or signing a lease, before you renovate and to help you
determine how to maintain your home for lead safety.
• A risk assessment will tell you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure such as peeling paint and lead dust and tells you what actions
to take to address these hazards. This is most helpful if you want to know if lead is causing exposure to your family now.
Have qualified professionals do the work. There are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to ensure the work is done safely, reliably and effectively. You can have a combined risk assessment and inspection.
Homebuyers and Renters: know your rights before you buy or lease
Many homes and condominiums built before 1978 have lead-based paint. Paint that has chipped or is deteriorating, or on surfaces that rub together such as windows and doors, creates lead dust which can pose serious health hazards to occupants and visitors. Homebuyers and renters have important rights to know about whether lead is present before signing contracts or leases.
Federal law requires that before being obligated under a contract to buy housing built prior to 1978, buyers must receive the following from the home seller:
• An EPA-approved information pamphlet on identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards titled Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home.
• Any known information concerning the presence of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards in the home or building. For multi-unit buildings, this requirement includes records and reports concerning common areas and other units when such information was obtained as a result of a building-wide evaluation.
• An attachment to the contract, or language inserted in the contract, that includes a Lead Warning Statement and confirms that the seller has complied with all notification requirements, such as Sample Seller’s Disclosure of Information.
• Homebuyers only: A 10-day period to conduct a paint inspection or risk assessment for lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards. Parties may mutually agree in writing, to lengthen or shorten the time period for inspection. Homebuyers may waive this inspection opportunity. If you have a concern about possible lead-based paint, then get a lead inspection from a certified inspector before buying.
• Renters only: An attachment to the contract, or language inserted in the contract, that includes a "Lead Warning Statement" and confirms that the landlord has complied with all notification requirements.
The EPA has produced a brochure here with answers to the following:
• How lead gets into the body
• How lead affects health
• What you can do to protect your family
• Where to go for more information
If you have a concern, then ask your landlord to get a lead hazard inspection from a certified inspector before signing your lease. Here is a home checklist to determine if your family is at risk.
If you are planning to make renovations to your home please check out this pamphlet created by the US EPA, is has a lot of useful information. Click HERE for pdf file.
Learn more about Lead and Lead-Based Paint at https://www.epa.gov/lead