As of April 22nd, all contractors involved in remodeling work of pre-1978 residential homes or child-occupied facilities must be certified by the EPA for using "best practices" in reference to lead paint.
Lead was added to paint in the first half of the 20th century as an agent for durability. Lead helped to protect the paint from weathering and mold/ mildew. Unfortunately, it has been found that lead can have adverse affects on the human body. Lead can affect the circulatory system, the kidneys, the gastrointestinal system and most notably the nervous system. Children and pregnant women are much more at risk, due to the state that their bodies are in. Children exposed to lead can have developmental and behavioral problems, lowering IQ or even leading to personality issues or aggression. Any neurologic damage that takes place is permanent. Children and pregnant women have been shown to absorb up to 50% of lead that they are exposed to, compared to 10-15% for an average adult!
The main avenue of transmission is by breathing in dust that contains lead particles. Peeling paint provides chips that are then worn down to dust. Lead can also be ingested directly as paint chips or from hands covered by lead dust.
New gudelines from the EPA require contractors to be certified in "safe practices" for lead paint. This translates to providing proper information to clients (in the form of a EPA pamphlet) , sealing off work area from rest of home and cleaning job properly with dust containment as the prime focus.
Chris Donatelli Builders now has staff with this EPA certification. We are ready to assist you with any remodeling work no matter what the age of your home!
Learn more about the threat of lead and how you can protect your family and yourself by visiting the EPA website:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/
Please contact our office with any questions regarding lead or other remodeling related issues!
Friday, May 14, 2010
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