University of Wisconsin - Extension

If you have an older home and plan to paint, repair or remodel, expect your contractors to notify you of possible lead paint hazards, says a University of Wisconsin- Extension housing specialist.

"If the job requires disturbing more than two square feet of paint on a home built before 1978, contractors must give the occupant a copy of the bulletin, "Protect your Family From Lead in Your Home," and must get a receipt for the pamphlet," says John Merrill.

Single copies of the pamphlet are available by calling the Lead Paint Hotline at (800) 424-LEAD. Merrill says notification is required by the "Pre-Renovation Lead Information Rule," which is part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. The rule does not apply to work you do on your own home or that involves an emergency repair required to prevent damage to the structure or for safety or health purposes.

This rule resulted, in part, from a Wisconsin study that looked at children with known elevated blood lead levels. The study looked at the frequency of renovation and remodeling activities in these children's homes. In about two-thirds of the cases, at least one renovation or remodeling job occurred in the previous year. Preparing surfaces for repainting was most strongly linked with high lead levels.

Merrill says the rule does not require lead paint removal. It is intended to make you aware of the potential risks so you can decide what to do. "Lead is a very serious threat to young children, so you should not ignore the information," he says. "Children with even traces of lead in their blood can have health problems. It is a particularly serious problem for young children because it affects the developing nervous system. Elevated blood lead levels can have a permanent affect on intelligence, motor control, hearing and emotional development."

The federal government is taking lead paint poisoning seriously because it appears that one in 23 children under age 6 has an elevated blood lead level. In areas with large stocks of older housing the number is often higher.

"Even if you are doing your own painting or other renovation work, you should take potential lead paint hazards seriously," Merrill says. "If your home was built before 1978, consider having the surfaces you will be working on tested for the presence of lead paint. Do-it-yourself lead testing kits are available, but their accuracy is questionable."

Be aware that the sample should include all layers of paint and that different walls and materials may have different underlying paints. One sample in a room may not give you the complete picture. Lead paint professionals know where to look and have equipment that allows them to check without disturbing the paint. If they check your entire house, you will know for sure if you have lead paint and where it is.

Removing lead-based paint requires special care to minimize harmful dust and to carefully contain and clean up any dust that is created, according to a University of Wisconsin-Extension housing specialist.

"Health officials warn against untrained home owners trying to remove lead-based paint themselves," Merrill says. "Fortunately, a lot of information is available about lead paint hazards and how to deal with them.

The Lead Hot Line offers other publications, including "Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance and Renovation Work," and "Lead in Your Home: A Parents Reference Guide." On the Web, you can find many lead paint sites, including the Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach Program.