Why Testing for Lead Paint is Important
The Dangers of Lead
Lead poisoning is a concern for both children and adults. It can cause:
- permanent problems with health, learning and behavior in children
- high blood pressure, kidney damage and fertility problems in adults
High Risk Areas
Where should you test for lead in your home?
- Areas with chipped and peeling paint (ex. window troughs or wells, sills, on radiators, walls, doors, etc.)
- Soil (ex. around the outside of your house, garage, fence, homes near busy roadways, etc.)
- Water (ex. plumbing with lead or copper pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, etc.)
Why Should You Target These Areas? What is the Risk?
- Old and deteriorating paint creates loose paint chips and lead dust. Swallowing such materials can cause lead poisoning. Further, lead dust can easily get on a child's hands, toys or baby bottles, increasing their chances of lead poisoning.
- Soil, in which lead has been deposited, is a risk area. Lead can settle in soil from peeling exterior paint or leaded gasoline exhaust; once lead is in the soil, it doesn't wash away.
- If your plumbing or faucets are made of risky materials, (ex. lead or copper pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, etc.), then your household water's chances of containing lead is increased.
EPA-Recognized Lead Test Kits
EPA has recognized three lead test kits for use in complying with the RRP Rule including the D-Lead® lead test kits by ESCA Tech. Based on the results of the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) report of vendor-submitted lead test kits, EPA recognizes that when used by a Certified Renovator, the D-Lead® paint test kit manufactured by ESCA Tech, Inc., can reliably determine that regulated lead-based paint is not present on wood, ferrous metal (alloys that contain iron), or drywall and plaster surfaces.