Should You Test for Lead Paint?

In 1978, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of lead-based paint in housing. Therefore, homes built after 1978 are unlikely to have lead paint. It is remotely possible a previous homeowner may have found an old can of paint and used it to repaint a room or touch up some trim, but this is an unlikely scenario. However, antiques, old painted furniture, and imported items may still have lead paint. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 87% of homes built before 1940 and 24% of those built between 1960 and 1978 have some lead-based paint.

Dangers of Lead Paint

According to the CDC, lead is a toxin that can cause serious health effects, particularly in children and pregnant women. Lead poisoning can cause abdominal pain, tiredness, depression, memory loss, irritability, and infertility in both men and women.

In children, lead poisoning can also cause neurological effects and stunt intellectual growth. Pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of lead can experience miscarriage and stillbirths. Even in low-level exposure, lead can damage the pre-born child’s developing nervous system, affecting behavior and intelligence.

Even if you do not see paint chipping from your lead-based painted walls, lead dust can accumulate on window sills and the floor and float in the air. If lead paint is buried under layers of newer, non-lead paint, you are in a safer position. However, lead paint was oil-based, and most houses today are painted with latex paint. Latex and oil paints do not create a strong bond, and chipping will eventually occur, exposing your family to lead contamination.

How to Test for Lead in Your Home

While there are some DIY lead kits on the market, the CPSC advises consumers to exercise caution when using these kits, as they are not highly reliable and consumers do not have the expertise to know where and how to test for lead. The EPA has recognized three lead test kits as reliable (accurate 19 out of 20 times) but only for use by Lead-Safe Certified renovators. None are approved for use by consumers.

The EPA recommends homeowners hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor to evaluate their homes for the presence of lead. If you are doing any renovation work and you know (or suspect) that your house was built before 1978, talk this over with prospective contractors before you hire them. Find out if they have experience working on older houses and if they work with a risk assessor. Ask them what their process is when they are dealing with lead paint. Choose a contractor who has knowledge of the issue, takes special precautions that lead paint dust does not cause a hazard to your family or the craftsmen working on the job, and is familiar with abatement options.

At Environmental Testing Services, we are committed to helping you create a safe, hazard-free home for your family. Call us today at (866) 226-2114 to discuss how we can help.