Skip to main content

Take steps to make sure your home is lead free, say county health officials

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming county health departments are encouraging county residents to “Choose Health.” Taking small steps in our day-to-day living and making positive health choices will lead to healthier outcomes. Is this a step you can take?

With warmer weather finally here many of you may have started or are planning home renovation projects, if you are, make sure you are being lead safe.

If your home or apartment was built before 1978 and there is chipping/peeling paint you could have a lead paint hazard. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, approximately 24 million housing units have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than four million of these residences are homes to one or more young children. With lead exposure having the ability to affect nearly every system in the body, it is important to put in place protective measures.

You can still work on your house but you need to take some easy steps to make sure that you and your family, especially young children and pregnant women, are not exposed to lead dust and paint. Follow these basic principles (from "Lead Paint Safety, A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance, and Renovation Work") when doing any work on your home or apartment:

  • Assume: Paint in homes built before 1978 contains lead, unless a lead-based paint inspection shows it does not. Exposing anyone to dust, especially children and pregnant women can be harmful.
  • Check: Federal, State and Local regulations. Check OSHA rules for worker safety and EPA and your local community rules for proper waste disposal.
  • Avoid: Creating dust – Use low dust work practices (for example, mist surfaces with water before sanding or scraping, NEVER use heat). Also avoid spreading dust – cover and tape the area under work and around air vents with durable protective sheeting (plastic or poly) and keep dust contained to the immediate work area.
  • Protect: Occupants, particularly children and pregnant women. Keep them away from the work area; clean up the work site as you work and before they return. Workers need to wear proper respiratory protection for lead dust, keep clean and don’t take dust home if working elsewhere or to other areas of your home. Keep work clothes / shoes separate from family clothes. Wash work clothes separately. Don’t wear work shoes around the house.
  • Clean Up:After all work, clean-up is particularly important if painted surfaces were broken or wall cavities were opened. Take dust wipe samples (contact your local health department for more information) to make sure that it is safe for children and pregnant women to return. Use a HEPA filter vacuum to capture the finest dust.
  • Maintain: A dry building – moisture problems can cause paint failure, building wear and tear, and encourage pests and mold. Well-maintained paint generally does not pose a health risk; all painted surfaces are to be checked regularly for dust or paint chips. Clean and cleanable surfaces are to be damp mopped/dusted often, keep floors and painted surfaces smooth and clean rugs and carpets well.

If you are planning on doing any homes repairs and have questions regarding whether or not you have a lead paint hazard, call your local county health department. Keep your family lead safe, your home should be a safe environment. To ensure a child has not been exposed to lead, a test for the toxic metal is necessary at ages 1 and 2.

For information about this topic or health department services contact:

Authentically Local