Frequently Asked Questions About Lead
Some Quick Facts About Lead:
- Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.
- Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
- Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
- You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.
- Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
What Happens If My Home Has Lead?
Lead exposure is very dangerous and can cause great physical harm. If you think your home might have lead hazards, please call a professional like DCM Environmental Testing Co. to perform an inspection at your home today!
What Are The Health Effects of Lead Exposure?
Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system.
- Behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Headaches
Lead is dangerous to children because:
- Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
- Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
- Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:
- Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
- High blood pressure and hypertension
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Muscle and joint pain
How Can People Get Lead In Their Body?
- Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths.
- Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
- Breathe in lead dust, especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
If my home has lead hazards what can I do to fix the problem and keep my family safe as well as protecting the value of my investment?
There are a number of possible solutions to this problem including:
- Complete abatement: Abatement of all lead-based paint inside and outside a dwelling or building and reduction of any lead-contaminated dust or soil hazards.
- Cleaning: The process of using a HEPA vacuum and wet cleaning agents to remove leaded dust; the process includes removal of bulk debris from the work area. OSHA prohibits the use of compressed air to clean lead-contaminated dust from a surface.
- Encapsulation: Any covering or coating that acts as a barrier between lead-based paint and the environment.
- Enclosure: The use of rigid, durable construction materials that are mechanically fastened to the substrate to act as a barrier between the lead-based paint and the environment.
- Paint Film Stabilization: An interim control method that stabilizes painted surfaces and addressed the underlying cause of deterioration. Steps include repairing defective surfaces, wet scraping, priming, and repainting surfaces coated with deteriorated lead-based paint; paint film stabilization includes cleanup and clearance.
- Paint Removal: An abatement strategy that entails the removal of lead-based paint from surfaces. For lead hazard control work, this can mean using chemicals, heat guns below 1,000F, and certain abrasive methods. OSHA prohibits certain methods and strict standards must be followed by the removal professional.
- Replacement: Replacement of existing features can be an appropriate abatement technique if the feature is deteriorated beyond repair or if the feature is of minor significance.
Note: All of these strategies require preparation; cleanup; waste disposal; post abatement clearance testing; record keeping; and, if applicable, monitoring.
How do I determine what is the best treatment option for my lead hazard?
- After your DCM Environmental Testing Co. report is complete you can have a consultation with one of their professionals along with a certified lead removal professional and determine the best course of action. It should be noted that we do not perform removal of any kind and does not endorse any removal company in any way. DCM Environmental Testing prepares its evaluation of your lead hazard and then will assist you with a lead removal professional in designing a comprehensive plan of correction.
What does DCM Environmental Testing charge to prepare a report on the lead hazard in my home? And, how long does it take to arrange for the inspection to be done?
- The cost of the inspection can be determined in a few minutes on the telephone and the actual inspection can usually be done in no longer than 48 hours. The report can then be generated and in your hands in a couple of days.
Are there programs available to assist me in payment for the actual lead abatement program that presents the best alternative to cure my lead hazard?
- Yes, we at DCM can provide you with free guidance in terms of where and how to obtain such financing for your individual lead hazard cure.