Lead

Lead poisoning in children is an ongoing concern that is the subject of several sets of government regulations. All of the regulations are based on limiting the exposure of young children to lead dust in the buildings that they occupy.

Identification and management of lead based paints is at the heart of all of these regulations.

Lead Based Paint Inspections

A Lead Based Paint Inspection is a comprehensive component by component inspections of a building for lead based paint. Inspections follow the HUD Protocol found in Chapter 7 of the HUD Guidelines. A portable XRF Lead Based Paint Analyzer is used to measure the lead content in paint on building components.

Lead Based Paint Inspections are typically performed when a building owner wants to know which surfaces in a building are coated with lead based paint, information that is then incorporated into the building's maintenance plan.

Lead Paint Hazard Assessments

Lead Paint Hazard Assessments determine if there is a risk of exposure to lead dust in a dwelling or other child occupied building. During a hazard assessment the condition of painted surfaces is noted, damaged surfaces are tested for lead using a portable XRF analyzer, and dust samples are collected from areas of the dwelling where young children spend a majority of their time. Soil and water samples may also be collected depending on the individual circumstances.

Lead Hazard Assessments are typically preformed in older buildings just prior to occupancy by families with young children.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water.

Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has reduced the maximum allowable lead content -- that is, content that is considered "lead-free" -- to be a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and 0.2 percent for solder and flux.