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Lead-free housing is the long-term goal.
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Make all housing lead-safe now. |
Wait until a lead-poisoned child is identified to
respond to lead hazards.
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Make properties lead-safe in the first place to prevent
poisoning. |
Lead-based paint is the major cause of childhood
lead poisoning.
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Lead-based paint is the major source—lead-contaminated
dust is the major pathway to children's exposure. |
| Determining the amount of lead in the paint is critical.
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Paint condition is as critical as its lead content.
Regular monitoring for paint deterioration is part of
good property maintenance.
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| Take hazard control measures only after a certified
lead inspector has identified which surfaces are coated
with lead-based paint. |
In many cases, it makes sense to assume leaded paint,
follow safe work practices, and do "clearance tests"
for quality control.
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| Permanent removal or abatement of lead paint is the
only way to guarantee safety. |
Calibrate the response to the situation to make housing
lead-safe. Target enforcement and subsidies to high-risk,
low-income properties.
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| Lead safety is the exclusive province of certified lead
experts and delivered through dedicated, stand-alone projects. |
Maintenance staff, painters, and remodelers need
to use lead-safe practices; only "abatement"
projects require lead experts.
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| The only training available related to lead-based paint
is for certified lead experts. |
4-8 hour training courses in lead-safe work practices,
approved by HUD and EPA, are widely available at low
cost.
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| Painters and remodelers should "broom sweep"
the work area at project's end. |
Specialized cleaning methods are critical. Clearance
testing is the only way to be sure that lead dust hazards
are not left behind.
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| No common standard of reference clearly establishes
the "standard of care" for rental property owners. |
HUD's lead-safety regulation establishes clear duties
for rental properties receiving federal assistance (24
CFR 35).
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| No federal standards for what constitutes lead hazards
in the residential environment. |
EPA standards define dangerous levels of lead in
dust, paint, and soil (40 CFR 745).
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| "Let the buyer beware." |
Buyers and tenants have a right to know about lead-based
paint and lead hazards. |
