Preventing Childhood Lead Exposure

• The U.S. paint and coatings industry, under the leadership of NPCA, is proactive in reducing the risk of lead exposure among all segments of the population.

• There is no lead in today's household paints, and for the most part, house paints contained little or no lead as early as the late 1950s -- well before the 1978 government ban on using lead in any consumer paints.

• The industry is also active in educating the public about how to test for lead in the environment and what to do if the source of lead is old lead paint.

LEAD RISK: HOW DOES EXPOSURE OCCUR?

   There are a number of sources of lead in the environment. Contrary to common perception, direct ingestion of deteriorated, old lead-based paint -- usually by children chewing on paint chips -- has now been shown to be a rare occurrence and is not the primary source of lead exposure.

   Research has also demonstrated a clear link between deteriorated housing and elevated blood-lead levels (BLLs) among residents. Such housing was generally built prior to the 1950s and is most often located in the inner cities. The total number of these housing units is estimated at about one million.

   Common household dust is the most frequent pathway to exposure. This is supported by several studies, including a recent finding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, revealing that lead is most often transmitted to humans by way of dust ingested through normal hand-to-mouth activity. Another HUD study underscored this finding by showing that controlling household dust clearly reduces risk from lead exposure.

   Lead in household dust can originate from a variety of sources, including deteriorated, old lead-based paint, and soil and dust "tracked" or "blown" in from outside the residence. Often, outside soil has become contaminated by lead as a result of past usage of leaded gasolines.

   Children's BLLs tend to be higher in summer, when they spend more time outdoors and when the ground is not frozen or covered with snow. Dust from outside the home is generally carried inside through opened windows and doors, and on shoes, clothing and household pets. Once in the home, the dust settles on furniture, floors and various household objects.

LEAD RISK: WHERE IS THE U.S. NOW?

   A child exposed to high levels of lead may encounter various health effects, including hyperactivity, lethargy, hearing or memory loss, or learning disabilities. Though the severity and permanency of these effects have been subject to scientific debate, the potential for health risks remains.

   According to a report released in July, 1998, the percentage of children ages 1 through 5 with elevated blood lead levels has fallen from 88 percent in the late 1970s to just 6 percent today. This phenomal success in reducing children's blood lead levels was reported in America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, a report compiled by eighteen federal agencies. The report documents vital statistics on the nation's 69.5 million children.

   Previously, results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were released in 1994, showing a 78 percent drop in overall blood-lead levels (BLLs) among all Americans between 1976 and 1991, from 12.8 to 2.8 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, placing the majority of the population well below the CDC's concern threshold ¾ a level of 10 micrograms ¾ for BLLs. These decreases are due in large part to the virtual elimination of lead use in household plumbing and paint, metal food containers and gasoline, as a result of industry initiatives, government actions and health education efforts.

   The NHANES also revealed that certain segments of the population remain at potential risk from lead exposure, particularly poor, often minority children living in urban communities.

   In February of 1997, the CDC announced that it was proposing new lead screening guidelines that will specifically target screening efforts at children who live in older homes and children from low-income families -- both populations where lead risks are more prevalent. To read the CDC release: Click Here.

LEAD-SAFE COMMUNITIES: ARE THERE SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS?

   Just as science has now shown that chewing on paint chips is not the chief cause of lead exposure, it is also showing that full-scale removal of lead-based paint is not always the most effective or efficient solution.

   A recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) confirms that lead-based paint that is well-maintained does not present a hazard and is best left undisturbed. In cases where there is paint deterioration, creating a "lead safe" home, or reducing lead exposure in an affected child, can be accomplished using a number of interim controls and permanent techniques. One option is to use "in-place management." A second is encapsulation.

   Although not to be used as a permanent abatement method, in-place management -- a technique comprised of repainting, regular cleaning, dust control and personal hygiene -- has been shown to be a feasible interim approach for protecting children from lead exposure.

   One promising permanent abatement technique is a new technology to effectively encapsulate old lead paint in housing. Encapsulation is increasingly being supported by regulatory agencies at the federal and state level, as a technically valid approach to lead abatement. Encapsulation as a form of abatement is particularly encouraging as a more practical and cost-effective alternative to removal.

   Full removal of lead-based paint remains a very expensive option -- running as high as an estimated $35,000 per average housing unit -- and should take place only when the old lead paint has significantly deteriorated, or if earlier renovations have left lead-contaminated dust in the home.

   When removal is required, it is absolutely essential that a professional contractor trained in proper lead-based paint removal handle the job.   When performed by untrained, unskilled contractors, removal can increase risk by creating lead dust and releasing it into the air. Improper removal can also create new lead contamination sites where none previously existed.

   Public education is crucial to the success of dust control programs. A 1994 study published in Pediatrics clearly demonstrates the positive impact counseling of parents and children -- providing instruction on sound intervention techniques -- has on reducing blood-lead levels.

HOW IS DUST CONTROL CONDUCTED?

   Recommendations regarding dust control -- also known as "in-place management" -- have been compiled by the paint industry under the leadership of NPCA. The practice of in-place management is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in regulations or guidelines offered to the public.

   The paint industry recommends several steps that emphasize proper cleaning and maintenance of intact lead-based paint, i.e., paint that is not significantly deteriorated (i.e., cracked, peeling, chipped, etc.) These steps are:

• Remove any contaminated dust with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air-filtered) vacuum.
• Wash walls, floors and trim thoroughly with a solution of lead-specific detergent in water.
• Repaint with two coats of high-quality paint that will provide a cleanable, durable surface.
• Institute an ongoing program of maintenance, good housekeeping and careful attention to children's personal hygiene and hand-to-mouth activity.

Copyright ©1999 National Paint & Coatings Association. All rights reserved

The information provided or referred to as part of the NPCA Web Site is believed to be reliable and accurate. However, NPCA cannot warrant any of this information, and cannot assume any liability for actions taken or reliance on any of it.