This is why we're painting over it with non-lead paint, and pretending the problem will just go away right. The cost of a licensed removal would be way beyond our scope. If you thought the mercury discussion was bad, wait until people see this(Please don't let them).<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 2:55 PM, Rachel McConnell <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rachel@xtreme.com">rachel@xtreme.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Advice on paint from Gina, our cleaner.<br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Lead paint in 50 % of all older buildings<br>
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:22:22 -0700<br>
From: Gina <<a href="mailto:cleansupport@lmi.net">cleansupport@lmi.net</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:build@lists.noisebridge.net">build@lists.noisebridge.net</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Hi All,<br>
<br>
As you may know, half of all buildings built before 1978 have lead<br>
paint, used especially on window sills, doors, kitchens, baths,<br>
Exposure can cause neurological problems in adults (see below).<br>
Deteriorating lead paint creates breathable lead dust that spreads<br>
throughout the space, contaminating regular dust. From there, it takes a<br>
free ride home on hair and clothes.<br>
<br>
<br>
Any damaged lead-painted surfaces need wet-sanding, then sealed and<br>
well-painted to a smooth, cleanable surface. After painting, lead-safe<br>
cleaning (using a HEPA vac and dust cloths dampened with soap) ensures<br>
that NB members won't be exposed.<br>
<br>
<br>
The older the bldg, the more likely to have the problem. Your landlord<br>
is required to inform you of any lead paint hazard. If not, the paint<br>
can be tested with a cheap test kit from the hardware store. Consumer<br>
Reports recommends Lead Check brand, although only a lab looking at a<br>
chip can tell for sure.<br>
<br>
Gina, cleaning for your health<br>
<br>
PS...<br>
Below are excerpts from <a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#health" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#health</a><br>
<br>
*Health effects of lead*<br>
<br>
* Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:<br>
o Reproductive problems (in both men and women)<br>
o High blood pressure and hypertension<br>
o Nerve disorders<br>
o Memory and concentration problems<br>
o Muscle and joint pain<br>
o<br>
<br>
* People can get lead in their body if they:<br>
o Breathe in lead dust, especially during renovations that<br>
disturb painted surfaces.<br>
o Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in<br>
their mouths.<br>
o<br>
<br>
<br>
*Where lead is found*<br>
<br>
* Household dust. Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating<br>
lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.<br>
<br>
<br>
* The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your<br>
hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home.<br>
Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your<br>
family's clothes.<br>
<br>
<br>
*Where lead is likely to be a hazard*<br>
<br>
Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't<br>
always see, can be serious hazards.<br>
<br>
* Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a<br>
hazard and needs immediate attention.<br>
<br>
Note: Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a<br>
hazard.<br>
<br>
* Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry<br>
sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or<br>
rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects<br>
that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when<br>
people vacuum, sweep or walk through it.<br>
<br>
<br>
*How to check your family and home for lead*<br>
<br>
Home test kits for lead are available, but studies suggest that they are<br>
not always accurate. Consumers should not rely on these tests before<br>
doing renovations or to assure safety.<br>
<br>
*What you can do to protect your family*<br>
<br>
* If you suspect that your house has lead hazards, you can take some<br>
immediate steps to reduce your family's risk:<br>
o If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.<br>
o Clean up paint chips immediately.<br>
o Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other<br>
surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm<br>
water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made<br>
specifically for lead.<br>
o Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty<br>
or dusty areas.<br>
<br>
* Additional steps:<br>
o You can temporarily reduce lead hazards by repairing<br>
damaged painted surfaces ...not permanent solutions and will<br>
need ongoing attention.<br>
o To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a<br>
certified lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or<br>
permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing,<br>
sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special<br>
materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint<br>
is not enough.<br>
o<br>
<br>
*Are you planning to buy or rent a home built before 1978?*<br>
<br>
* Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program<br>
o LANDLORDS have to disclose known information on lead-based<br>
paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take<br>
effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about<br>
lead-based paint.<br>
<br>
<br>
Renovating, repairing or painting a home,<br>
<br>
Beginning in April 2010, federal law will require that contractors<br>
performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb<br>
lead-based paint in homes<br>
<br>
Contractor should follow these three simple procedures:<br>
<br>
* Contain the work area<br>
* Minimize dust<br>
* Clean up throughly<br>
<br>
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See<br>
EPA's PDF page <<a href="http://www.epa.gov/epahome/pdf.html" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/epahome/pdf.html</a>> to learn more.<br>
<br>
To learn more about renovation:<br>
<br>
* Visit EPA's renovation, repair and painting<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm</a>> web page<br>
* Read the EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX/2008/April/Day-22/t8141.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX/2008/April/Day-22/t8141.pdf</a>><br>
(79 pp, 847K)<br>
* Read the fact sheet on renovation<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpfactsheet2008.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpfactsheet2008.htm</a>> | en español<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpfactsheet2008sp.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpfactsheet2008sp.htm</a>><br>
* Read EPA pamphlets on renovation, repair and painting:<br>
o /Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for<br>
Families, Child Care Providers and Schools (PDF)/<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf</a>> (20<br>
pp, 3.7MB)<br>
o /Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (PDF)/<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/contractor_brochure.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/contractor_brochure.pdf</a>> (2<br>
pp, 1.5MB) HTML version<br>
<<a href="http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/contractor_brochure.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/contractor_brochure.htm</a>><br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br>