Addendum H Revised 10/21/2015

Protect

Your

Family

From

Lead in

Your

Home

Addendum H Revised 10/21/2015

AreYou Planning to Buy or Rent a Home BuiltBefore 1978?

Did you know thatmany homes built before 1978 havelead-basedpaint?Leadfrompaint,chips, and dust can pose serious healthhazards.

Read this entirebrochureto learn:

  • How lead gets into the body
  • About health effects oflead
  • Whatyou can do toprotectyour family
  • Whereto go formoreinformation

Beforerenting or buying a pre-1978 home or apartment, federallawrequires:

  • Sellers must disclose known information on lead-based paint or lead-based painthazardsbefore selling a house.
  • Real estate sales contracts must includeaspecific warningstatementabout lead-based paint.Buyers have up to 10 daysto check forlead.
  • Landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paintandlead-based painthazards before leases take effect. Leases mustincludeaspecific warning statement aboutlead-based paint.

If undertaking renovations,repairs, or painting(RRP) projects inyour pre-1978 home or apartment:

  • ReadEPA’s pamphlet, The Lead-Safe CertifiedGuide toRenovate Right,to learn about the lead-safeworkpracticesthatcontractorsarerequiredtofollow when working in your home.

Simple Steps to ProtectYour Family fromLeadHazards

If you think your home has lead-based paint:

  • Don’ttryto remove lead-based paint yourself.
  • Always keep painted surfaces in good conditiontominimizedeterioration.
  • Get your home checked for lead hazards. Finda certifiedinspector or risk assessor at epa.gov/lead.
  • Talk to yourlandlord about fixingsurfaces withpeelingorchipping paint.
  • Regularlyclean floors, windowsills, andothersurfaces.
  • Takeprecautionstoavoidexposureto lead dust whenremodeling.
  • Whenrenovating,repairing, or painting,hire only EPA- or state-approvedLead-Safe

certified renovationfirms.

  • Beforebuying,renting, or renovatingyour home have itchecked for lead-based paint.
  • Consultyour health careprovider about testingyourchildrenforlead.Yourpediatrician can

checkfor lead with a simpleblood test.

  • Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, andtoysoften.
  • Make surechildreneat healthy, low-fatfoods high in iron,calcium, and vitamin C.
  • Remove shoes or wipesoil off shoes before enteringyourhouse.

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Addendum H Revised 10/21/2015

Lead Gets into the Body in ManyWays

Adults and children can get lead into their bodies if they:

  • Breathe in lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations,repairs, or paintingthat disturb painted surfaces).
  • Swallow lead dust that has settled on food, foodpreparation surfaces,and other places.
  • Eatpaint chips or soil thatcontainslead.

Lead is especially dangeroustochildren under the age of 6:

  • At this age,children’sbrainsand nervous systemsaremore

sensitiveto thedamaging effects of lead.

  • Children’sgrowing bodiesabsorb morelead.
  • Babies and youngchildrenoften put their hands

and other objects in theirmouths.These objects canhave lead dust on them.

Women of childbearing age should know that lead is dangeroustoa developingfetus.

  • Women with a high lead level in their systembefore or duringpregnancy risk exposing the fetusto lead through the placentaduring fetaldevelopment.

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Addendum H Revised 10/21/2015

HealthEffectsof Lead

Lead affectsthe bodyin manyways.Itisimportant to know thatevenexposuretolowlevels of lead can severely harm children.

In children,exposureto lead can cause:

  • Nervous system and kidney damage
  • Learningdisabilities,attention deficitdisorder, and decreasedintelligence
  • Speech, language, and behaviorproblems
  • Poor muscle coordination
  • Decreased muscle and bone growth
  • Hearing damage

Whilelow-leadexposure is most common,exposureto high amounts of lead can

Havedevastating effects on children, includingseizures,unconsciousness,and,

in some cases,death.

Althoughchildrenare especially susceptibleto lead exposure, lead canbe dangerousforadults, too.

In adults,exposureto lead can cause:

  • Harm to a developingfetus
  • Increasedchance of high blood pressure during pregnancy
  • Fertility problems (in men and women)
  • High blood pressure
  • Digestiveproblems
  • Nerve disorders
  • Memory and concentrationproblems
  • Muscle and joint pain

CheckYour Family for Lead

Get yourchildren and home tested if you think your home haslead.

Children’s blood lead levelstendtoincreaserapidlyfrom 6 to 12months of age, and tendto peak at 18 to 24 months of age.

Consultyour doctor foradvice on testingyourchildren. A simple bloodtest can detect lead. Blood lead testsare usually recommendedfor:

  • Childrenat ages 1 and 2
  • Children or other family members who have been exposedto highlevels of lead
  • Children who should be tested under yourstate or local healthscreening plan

Your doctor can explainwhat the testresults mean and if moretesting will be needed.

Where Lead-Based Paint Is Found

Ingeneral, the older your home or childcarefacility, the more likely ithaslead-based paint. “Lead-based paint”is currently defined by the federalgovernment as paint withlead levelsgreater than or equal to 1.0 milligram per squarecentimeter (mg/cm), ormore than 0.5% byweight.

Many homes, including private, federallyassisted,federallyownedhousing, and childcare facilities built before 1978 have lead-basedpaint.In 1978, the federalgovernment banned consumer uses of lead-containingpaint. “Lead-containing paint”is currently defined by the federalgovernment as leadin newdried paint in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm) byweight.

Learnhowtodetermine if paint is lead-based paintunder “Checking Your Home for Lead” later in this document.

Lead can be found:

  • In homes and childcare facilities in the city, country, or suburbs;
  • Inprivate and public single-family homes and apartments;
  • On surfaces inside and outside of the house; and
  • In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead fromexteriorpaint orother sources, such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)

Learnmore about where lead is foundat epa.gov/lead.

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Addendum H Revised 10/21/2015

IdentifyingLead-Based Paint and Lead-Based PaintHazards

Deteriorating lead-based paint(peeling,chipping,chalking,cracking, or damaged paint) is a hazard and needs immediateattention.Lead-basedpaintmay also be a hazard when found onsurfaces thatchildren can chew or that get a lot of wear and tear, suchas:

  • On windows and window sills
  • Doors and door frames
  • Stairs,railings,banisters, and porches

Lead-basedpaint is usually not a hazard if it is in good conditionand if it is not on an impact or friction surface like a window.

Lead dustcan form when lead-based paint is scraped,sanded, orheated.Lead dust also forms when painted surfaces containinglead bump or rub together. Leadpaint chips and dust can get onsurfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can reenterthe air when the home is vacuumed or swept, or when people walkthrough it. EPAcurrently defines the followinglevels oflead indust ashazardous:

  • 40 micrograms per squarefoot (μg/ft2)andhigher for floors,includingcarpetedfloors
  • 250μg/ft2and higher forinteriorwindow sills

Lead in soilcan be a hazard when childrenplay in bare soil or whenpeoplebringsoil into thehouse ontheir shoes. EPA currently definesthe followinglevels of lead in soil as hazardous:

  • 400 parts per million (ppm) and higher in playareas of bare soil
  • 1,200 ppm(average) and higher in bare soil in the remainder of theyard

Remember, lead frompaint chips—which you can see—and leaddust—which you may not be able to see—both can be hazards. The only wayto findout if paint,dust, or soil lead hazards exist is totestforthem.Thenextsectiondescribeshowtodothis.

CheckingYour Home for Lead

Youcan get your home testedfor leadin severaldifferent ways:

  • A lead-based paint inspectiontellsyou if your home has lead-based paint and where it is located.Itwon’ttellyou whether yourhome currently has lead hazards. A trained andcertified testingprofessional, called a lead-based paintinspector, will conduct a paint inspectionusing methods, such as:
  • Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF)machine
  • Lab tests of paint samples
  • A risk assessmenttellsyou if your homecurrently has any lead hazardsfrom leadin paint,

dust, or soil.It also tellsyouwhatactions to take toaddressanyhazards. Atrained and

certified testing professional,called a risk assessor, will:

  • Sample paint that is deteriorated on doors,windows, floors, stairs,and walls
  • Sample dust near painted surfaces and sampling bare soil in theyard
  • Get lab tests of paint,dust, and soil samples
  • A combination inspection and risk assessmenttellsyou if your homehas any lead-based

paint and if your home has any lead hazards, andwhere both arelocated.

Be suretoread the report providedtoyou after your inspection or riskassessment is completed, and ask questions about anythingyou do notunderstand.

Inpreparingforrenovation,repair, or paintingwork in a pre-1978home, Lead-Safe Certified renovators may:

  • Takepaint chip samples todetermine if lead-based paint ispresent in the area planned forrenovation and send them to anEPA-recognized lead lab foranalysis.In housing receivingfederalassistance, theperson collectingthese samplesmust bea certifiedlead-based paint inspector or risk assessor.
  • UseEPA-recognizedtests kits todetermine if lead-based paint isabsent (but not in housing receivingfederalassistance)
  • Presumethat lead-based paint is present and use lead-safeworkpractices

Therearestate and federalprograms in placetoensurethattesting isdonesafely, reliably, and effectively. Contactyourstate orlocal agencyformoreinformation, visitepa.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD(5323)for a list of contacts in yourarea. Hearing-or speech challengedindividuals mayaccess this number throughTTYbycalling the FederalRelay Service at 1-800-877-8399.

WhatYou Can Do Now to ProtectYour Family

If you suspect thatyour house has lead-based painthazards, youcan take some immediatestepstoreduceyourfamily’s risk:

  • Ifyourent, notify yourlandlord of peeling or chipping paint.
  • Keep painted surfaces cleanand free of dust. Clean floors, windowframes,windowsills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or spongewith warmwater and a general all-purpose cleaner. (Remember:never mix ammonia and bleach productstogether because they canform a dangerousgas.)
  • Carefully clean up paint chips immediately without creatingdust.
  • Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads often during cleaning ofdirty

or dusty areas, and again afterward.

  • Wash your hands and yourchildren’s hands often, especially beforethey eat

andbefore nap time and bed time.

  • Keep play areas clean.Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys,and stuffedanimals

regularly.

  • Keep childrenfrom chewing window sills or other painted surfaces, oreatingsoil.
  • Whenrenovating,repairing, or painting,hire only EPA- or state-approved Lead-Safe Certified renovation firms.
  • Clean or remove shoes beforeenteringyour home toavoid trackingin lead fromsoil.
  • Make surechildreneatnutritious,low-fat meals high in iron, andcalcium,

such as spinach and dairyproducts.Children with good dietsabsorb less lead.

Reducing LeadHazards

Disturbing lead-based paint orremoving lead improperly canincrease the hazardtoyour family byspreading even more lead dust aroundthe house.

  • In addition today-to-day cleaningand good nutrition, you cantemporarilyreduce lead-based painthazardsby taking actions, such asrepairing damaged painted surfacesand plantinggrassto cover lead-contaminatedsoil.These actions arenot permanent solutions and will needongoing attention.
  • You can minimizeexposureto leadwhen renovating,repairing, or painting,by hiring an EPA- or state-certified renovator whois trained in theuse of lead-safeworkpractices.Ifyouare a do-it-yourselfer, learn howto use lead–safeworkpractices in yourhome.
  • Toremove lead hazardspermanently, you should hire acertified leadabatement contractor. Abatement (or permanenthazardelimination)methods include removing,sealing, or enclosing lead-based paintwith special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regularpaint is not permanent control.

Always useacertified contractor whois trained to address leadhazards safely.

  • Hire a Lead-Safe Certified firm to perform renovation,repair, or painting (RRP) projectsthat disturb painted surfaces.
  • To correct lead hazards permanently,hire a certifiedlead abatementprofessional.This will ensureyourcontractorknowshowtoworksafely and has the properequipmentto clean up thoroughly.

Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strictsafety rules as set by their state or by the federalgovernment.

If your home has had lead abatement work doneor if the housing isreceivingfederalassistance,once the work is completed, dust cleanupactivities must be conducteduntilclearancetestingindicatesthat leaddust levelsarebelow the followinglevels:

  • 40 micrograms per squarefoot (μg/ft2) for floors, including carpetedfloors
  • 250μg/ft2for interiorwindows sills
  • 400μg/ft2forwindowtroughs

Forhelp in locating certifiedlead abatement professionals in yourarea,call yourstate or local agency or visitepa.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD.

Renovating, Remodeling, or Repairing (RRP) a Homewith Lead-Based Paint

If you hire a contractorto conduct renovation,repair, or painting(RRP) projects in your pre-1978 home or childcare facility (such aspre-school and kindergarten), yourcontractor must:

  • Bea Lead-Safe Certified firm approved by EPA oranEPA-authorized stateprogram;
  • Use qualifiedtrained individuals (Lead-SafeCertifiedrenovators) who follow

specificlead-safeworkpracticestoprevent lead contamination; and

  • Provide a copy of EPA’s lead hazardinformationdocument, The Lead-Safe Certified

Guide toRenovate Right

RRP contractorsworking in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilitiesmust follow

lead-safe work practicesthat:

  • Contain the work area.Thearea must be contained so that dust anddebris do not

escapefrom the workarea.Warning signs must be putup,andplasticorother

impermeable material andtapemustbe used.

  • Avoidrenovation methods thatgeneratelargeamounts oflead-contaminateddust.Some methods generate so much lead-contaminated dust that their use is prohibited.Theyare:
  • Open-flameburningortorching
  • Sanding,grinding,planing, needle gunning, or blasting withpowertools and equipment not equipped with a shroud andHEPAvacuumattachment and
  • Using a heat gun attemperatures greater than 1100°F
  • Clean up thoroughly.Theworkarea should be cleaned up daily.When all the work is done, the area must be cleaned up using specialcleaning methods.
  • Dispose of waste properly.Collect and seal waste in a heavy dutybag or sheeting.Whentransported,ensurethatwaste is containedtopreventrelease of dust and debris.

To learn more about EPA’srequirementsfor RRP projects visitepa.gov/getleadsafe,orreadTheLead-SafeCertifiedGuidetoRenovate Right.

Other Sources of Lead

Whilepaint,dust, and soil are the most commonsources of lead,other lead sources also exist:

  • Drinking water.Your home might have plumbing with lead or leadsolder.You cannot see,smell, or tastelead, and boiling yourwater willnot get rid of lead.Ifyou think your plumbing mightcontain lead:
  • Use only coldwaterfor drinking and cooking.
  • Run waterfor 15 to 30 secondsbefore drinking it, especially ifyou have not used yourwaterfor a fewhours.
  • Call your localhealth department or water supplier to find outabout testingyourwater, or visitepa.gov/lead forEPA’s lead indrinking waterinformation
  • Leadsmeltersor other industries thatrelease lead into the air.
  • Yourjob.If you work with lead, you could bringithomeon your bodyor clothes.Shower and change clothes beforecominghome. Launderyourwork clothes separatelyfrom the rest of your family’s clothes.
  • Hobbiesthat use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass,or refinishing furniture. Call your localhealthdepartment forinformation about hobbies thatmay use lead.
  • Old toysandfurnituremay have been painted with lead-containingpaint. Older toys and other children’sproductsmay have partsthatcontainlead. In 1978, thefederalgovernment banned toys, other children’sproducts,and furniturewith lead-containing paint (16 CFR 1303). In 2008, the federalgovernment bannedlead in most children’sproducts.Thefederalgovernmentcurrently bans lead inexcess of 100 ppmbyweight in most children’s products (76 FR 44463).
  • Food and liquids cooked or stored inlead crystalor lead-glazedpottery or porcelainmaycontainlead.
  • Folk remedies, such as“greta”and “azarcon,”used to treat an upset stomach.

IMPORTANT!

  • LeadFrom Paint, Dust, and Soil in andAroundYour Home Can Be Dangerous if Not Managed Properly.
  • Children under 6 years old are most at risk for leadpoisoning in yourhome.
  • Leadexposure can harm youngchildren,babies, andfetuseseven before they are born.
  • Homes,schools, and child care facilities built before 1978are likely tocontain lead-based paint.
  • Even children who seem healthymay have dangerouslevels of lead in their bodies.
  • Disturbing surfaces with lead-based paint or removinglead-based paintimproperly can increase the

dangertoyour family.

  • People can get lead into their bodies bybreathing orswallowing lead dust, or byeating soil or

paint chipscontaininglead.

  • People have many options for reducing lead hazards.Generally, lead-based paintthat is in good condition is nota hazard.

ForMoreInformation

TheNationalLeadInformation Center

Learnhowtoprotectchildrenfrom lead poisoning and get otherinformation about lead hazards on theWebat epa.gov/leadandhud.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

EPA’sSafe DrinkingWaterHotline

Forinformation about lead in drinking water, call1-800-426-4791, orvisit epa.gov/leadforinformation about lead in drinking water.

ConsumerProductSafetyCommission(CPSC)Hotline

Forinformation on lead in toys and other consumerproducts, or toreport an unsafeconsumerproduct or a product-relatedinjury, call1-800-638-2772,or visit CPSC’s websiteat cpsc.gov orsaferproducts.gov.

State and LocalHealth and EnvironmentalAgencies

Some states,tribes, and cities have their own rules relatedto lead-based paint. Check with your local agency to see which laws applyto you.Most agenciescan also provide information onfinding aleadabatement firmin your area, andonpossible sources offinancialaidforreducing lead hazards.Receive up-to-date address and phoneinformationforyourstate or local contacts on theWebat epa.gov/lead,or contact the NationalLeadInformationCenterat 1-800-424-LEAD.

Hearing- or speech-challenged individuals mayaccessany of thephone numbers in this brochure

throughTTYby calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

U. S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)RegionalOffice

The mission of EPA is toprotect human health and the environment.Your RegionalEPAOffice can provide further informationregardingregulations and lead protection programs.

Region 3(Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,Virginia, DC,WestVirginia)

RegionalLeadContact

U.S. EPARegion 31650 ArchStreet

Philadelphia,PA 19103

(215) 814-2088

ConsumerProduct Safety Commission(CPSC)

The CPSC protects the public against unreasonable risk of injuryfromconsumer products througheducation,safetystandardsactivities, and enforcement.Contact CPSC for further informationregardingconsumer product safety and regulations.

CPSCwww.cpsc.gov or

4330 EastWest Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814-4421

1-800-638-2772

U. S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD)