LEAD IN THE HOME AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT IT
When Was The Law Enacted?
In 1991 Rhode Island passed a comprehensive Lead Law to protect children in our state from environmental lead hazards. The Department of Health (HEALTH) promptly developed standards to be followed in order to achieve the goals of the Lead Law.
What Are The Major Provisions Of The Lead Law Related To Lead Hazards?
HEALTH Standards for achieving a lead safe environment in target housing (homes with children under the age of 6 years, rental units that may be occupied by children under 6, and child care facilities) are included in the following questions and answers.
Do All Homes In Rhode Island Contain Dangerous Levels Of Lead Based Paint?
NO. White lead in paints and coatings for residential uses was banned by the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, effective January 1, 1978. Therefore, if your home was built after that date, it is considered lead free. In homes built before 1978 it is likely that the paints and coatings used contain some levels of lead that may present hazards. This is particularly true for homes built prior to 1960.
If I Own Or Reside In An Older Home Am I Placing My Family At Risk?
Not necessarily. Lead based paint and coatings generally do not present a hazard unless they are damaged (peeling, chipped, flaking, delaminating), or were used on a friction (rubbing) surface such as windows and doors. A child under six years old who consumes lead paint chips or dust, or breathes lead dust can become lead poisoned. Homes with intact paint (no damage or chipping) and no friction surfaces containing lead paint are probably lead safe.
Should I Remove All Lead Based Paint From My Home To Ensure It Is Safe?
NO. Complete removal of lead paint and coatings from a home is a very expensive project and not required by the RI lead standards. The goal is to prevent chipped and peeling paint by maintaining all painted surfaces.
How Can I Prevent Lead Hazards From Occurring In My Home?
Routine maintenance of painted surfaces can minimize the likelihood of a child becoming lead poisoned. Any damaged, chipping or flaking paint should be corrected immediately and not allowed to develop into a significant lead hazard. Always follow lead safe work practices when working with lead based paint.
Are There Other Lead Hazards In A Home Besides Lead Based Paint?
YES. There are several other sources of lead that may poison a child. The soil surrounding a home may be contaminated with lead from paint previously removed from the house or from leaded gasoline that was used for many years. The risk is greatly reduced when the soil is covered with grass or made inaccessible to young children. In addition, the water service lines and piping in the house may contain lead that could contaminate the water. The risk is reduced by running the water for at least one minute before using the water for drinking or cooking.
How Can A Homeowner Determine If Lead Hazards Exist At His Or Her Home?
If your home was built before 1960 and there is visible paint peeling or chipping, or there are painted window sashes, you may assume lead hazards are present. If your home was built after 1960 but before 1978, the likelihood that lead hazards are present is much lower. Commercial test kits containing Sodium Rhodizonate will confirm the presence of lead in paint, but should not be used to determine the absence of lead. To determine lead in dust, water and soil and the amount of lead in paint, a licensed environmental inspector can be hired to conduct a lead hazard inspection.
Does HEALTH Maintain A List Of Licensed Environmental Lead Inspectors?
YES. HEALTH licenses environmental lead inspectors, lead hazard reduction contractors and lead hazard reduction workers. Lists of current environmental lead inspectors and contractors can be obtained by calling The HEALTH Information Line at 1-800- 942-7434 or visiting HEALTH’s web site at http://www.health.ri.gov.
Is Special Training Required To Eliminate Lead Hazards In A Home?
YES. HEALTH’s Standards require anyone eliminating lead hazards to obtain training in lead safe work practices. However, when a child has been significantly lead poisoned, HEALTH requires that trained Lead Hazard Reduction Contractors conduct the lead hazard reduction activities due to the extreme nature of the work.
Must A Lead Hazard Reduction Contractor Be Used For All Lead Based Paint Remediation?
NO. For most proactive interventions, a lead safe remodeler/renovator may be used. Lead based paint must be removed or covered without introducing lead dust into the air or leaving lead paint chips at the work site. Using unsafe methods to remove lead based paint can increase the risks to children and other occupants of a dwelling.
How Can I Obtain Information On Lead Safe Work Practices?
HEALTH can provide you with resource information on lead safe work practices and a list of training providers that offer courses in lead safe work practices.
Must I Leave My Home When Lead Paint Hazards Are Being Abated?
Not necessarily. If the abatement is limited to certain areas, those areas can be isolated from use until the work is completed. If abatement is occurring in your entire residence, you should temporarily relocate. When lead paint hazards are being abated, there should be no one except trained workers in that area.
As A Property Owner, Must I Inform Tenants Of Lead Hazards?
YES. Both Federal and State Standards require that the owner and/or real estate agent disclose known lead exposure hazards and potential lead exposure hazards in both rental and sales of residential properties. HEALTH has copies of the specific documents that must be provided. HEALTH will provide a Lead Disclosure information packet on request.
Where Do I Report Someone Who Is Not Using Lead Safe Work Practices?
To report unsafe work practices on the exterior of a building, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management should be contacted at (401) 222-1360. To report unsafe work practices on the interior of a dwelling, contact HEALTH’s Lead Program at (401) 222-1417.
Where Can I Find More Information About The State Standards For Lead Safe Environments?
To obtain further information on childhood lead hazards and State standards, please contact HEALTH’s Lead Program at (401) 222-1417.
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