Lead was used as a pigment and drying agent in "alkyd" oil based paint. "Latex" water based paints
generally have not contained lead. About two-thirds of the homes built before 1940 and one-half of the
homes built from 1940 to 1960 contain heavily-leaded paint. Some homes built after 1960 also contain
heavily-leaded paint. It may be on any interior or exterior surface, particularly on woodwork, doors, and
windows. In 1978, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lowered the legal maximum lead
content in most kinds of paint to 0.06% (a trace amount). Consider having the paint in homes constructed
before the 1980s tested for lead before renovating or if the paint or underlying surface is deteriorating.
This is particularly important if infants, children, or pregnant women are present.
Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children and can also affect adults. In children,
lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental
and physical development and reduce attention span. It can also retard fetal development even at extremely
low levels of lead. In adults, it can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, and nerve damage to the sense
organs and nerves controlling the body. Lead poisoning may also cause problems with reproduction (such
as a decreased sperm count). It may also increase blood pressure. Thus, young children, fetuses, infants,
and adults with high blood pressure are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead.
INSPECTION SERVICES
Lafser & Associates are trained and certified to use an XRF (x-ray fluorescence) instrument for lead
inspections. An XRF is a portable machine that emits fluorescent x-rays which cause electrons to be ejected
from the orbit path of an atom. The energy created by this disruption of electrons is measure by the XRF
instrument to determine the presence of a certain element, in this case the presence of Lead in paint. XRF
testing is a non-destructive means of sampling that can detect not only lead-based paint on the surface but
also lead-based paint that may be present beneath other layers of paint. Sampling can also be done by
taking paint chip samples and having the paint chips analyzed by an accredited laboratory. Paint chip
sampling is an expensive and destructive means of sampling and will leave unsightly holes where there
sample was taken from, and is therefore not a recommended means of sampling.
A lead inspection tests inside and outside your home to see if there's lead paint and where it's located.
This is important information if you plan to renovate or do repairs that might disturb painted surfaces.
(Lead paint under layers of newer non-lead paint is usually not a hazard unless it is disturbed.)
You should have a lead inspection if you plan to buy, renovate, or plan to remove lead paint (to make the
property lead-free), or if a property will be demolished.
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