Lead Based Paint

In 1996, Title X Federal legislation became effective, requiring (among other things) that prospective home purchasers be made aware of the possibility of lead-based paint in houses built prior to 1978.  The seller must disclose whether he or she knows of the presence of lead-based paint.  Testing is at your option.  According to this law, the presence of any lead-based paint in a building does not require that any remedial action be taken.  Current guidelines generally suggest that intact lead paint be left alone unless there are elevated levels of lead in the blood or another critical risk factor.

Lead-based paint becomes a problem if children eat or breathe the paint chips or dust.  This causes an increased level of lead in the bloodstream, which has many serious health effects.  These effects are generally most serious in younger children.  Doctors often test lead levels in blood for children under the age of six.  Only if these test results are high is any action mandated by local health departments.

It is not just peeling lead-based paint that is a hazard.  If there is lead-based paint on window or door frames, the operation of the windows or doors can cause lead-containing particles to be released.  A child could eat or breathe these lead-containing particles.  For example, if lead-containing dust settles on a toy, a child playing with that toy is at increased risk.  There is also a risk of lead contamination from drinking water or objects that contain lead.

You should read the lead disclosure brochure that should be provided to you by the real estate broker (or seller if there is no real estate broker) and make your own choice as to how to proceed.

You should arrange with an environmental testing service to testing for the presence of lead paint.  For more information on lead, visit the National Safety Council lead information page , the EPA lead information web site , or the EPA brochure on Lead Poisoning and Your Family .
 

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