When most people think of lead exposure, they imagine peeling paint in old homes or contaminated drinking water. While those are certainly major sources, what often goes overlooked is how lead can quietly pose a serious health risk to your family without any obvious signs. Approximately 80% of the potential lead exposure comes from dust by lead-based paint or varnish that is either inside or outside of a home. The greatest risk of health damage is with children, especially during the early development stages of life.
As homeowners become more proactive about creating healthier living environments, testing for lead has become just as important as checking for mold or asbestos, especially in real estate transactions or remodeling projects. It’s a foundational step toward truly clean air and safe occupancy, and it’s especially crucial for homes built before 1978 when lead-based paints and varnishes were widely used.
Lead becomes airborne at locations where two surfaces meet, like at friction surfaces of windows going up and down and the impact surfaces where doors close. On exterior surfaces, weather can cause paint to flake off the surfaces, and people track it into the home or in areas where you can work/play in the debris. As dust, the lead paint does not travel far when airborne due to the weight but can be transported on clothing or shoes. The government does not support a safe level of exposure to lead, so the current acceptable threshold values continue to fall.
This contaminant does not degrade with time; lead is a very stable element. So, a concentration of lead can build up over time unless removed. Thus, the use of a high-quality vacuum is needed, preferably using a true HEPA vacuum. Non-HEPA vacuums can spread the dust in the home through their exhaust discharge. Over time, this continuous low-level exposure can significantly compromise indoor air quality and safe occupancy, especially in areas where children spend time crawling or playing close to the floor. For children, the route of exposure is from hand-to-mouth activities. Thus, it is from ingestion.
If you live in a home that was built before 1978, you should assume that painted surfaces contain lead. To disprove this assumption, you could hire a consultant who owns an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device that measures the concentration of lead on a surface that can see through several layers of paint. Note that varnish can also have lead added to the product and must be treated with the same care as paint. Using an XRF, a survey of a property can measure 300 or 400 locations in a day. This information can be used when considering a remodeling project or preparing a maintenance plan for a building.
There are federal laws that cover construction contractors that are hired to remodel buildings. At a minimum, they need to be certified as attending the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program. A homeowner can order the student manual, which is document EPA-740-R-09-002. There are many training facilities that can give a one-day course to obtain the RRP certification. There is a hefty fine for those contractors who do not have the RRP certification and work on a home older than 1978.
Consider scheduling a test if:
There are several options for lead testing, depending on how you will use the information. If a contractor is hired, then they will need to know what the lead concentration is on a surface, all the way to the substrate, because there could be five layers of paint!
Methods that a home or property owner can use for a cursory method of checking a surface. This is only a screening tool and is not to be used to hire a contractor.
A lead-sensitive crayon that turns color on contact with a lead-containing surface
The detrimental health effects of the exposure are most severe in children. This is because the body mistakes the lead for calcium and is absorbed into the bones and other tissues; especially with a child with a poorly balanced diet. It can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Even at low levels, this can lead to:
Adults are often exposed from using sanding equipment or a heat gun to strip paint. Thus, for an adult, the route of exposure is normally from inhalation.
The following are the industry standard methods of addressing surfaces that have lead paint. These are methods that a contractor should be able to complete.
Replacement: A painted material such as a window, door, or door frame is replaced using common methods to control dust
Enclosure: Scrap off the loose paint and then cover it with an aluminum wrap stock
Stabilize: Scrape off the loose paint and repaint the surface with a new coat
Is lead still a problem in newer homes?
Homes built after 1978 are generally safer, but lead can still be present in imported materials or older plumbing systems. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Can I test for lead myself with a home kit?
DIY kits are available, but they don’t offer the accuracy or legal reliability of professional testing, especially when air quality is a concern.
How often should I test?
If you hire a consultant to survey the property or test specific areas with laboratory analysis, you do not need to retest. The exception to this is testing the water because it is often dependent on the quality of the water entering the home.
In the conversation around indoor air quality and safe occupancy, lead deserves just as much attention as mold or asbestos. It can accumulate as dust on surfaces such as window sills and floors, making it a hidden hazard, and one that’s entirely preventable with proper testing and maintenance.
At Farsight Management Inc., we offer assessments for lead that can help with the preparation of a management plan. We’re committed to helping homeowners, property managers, and contractors create spaces where clean air isn’t a luxury; it’s the baseline.
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Be proactive. Testing your home for lead is a smart step toward a safer home and a healthier family.
At Farsight Management we understand that not all indoor air quality companies are created equal.
We feel that it is imperative to educate ourselves, our employees, and our customers. You can trust that we follow all the national standards in regards to indoor air quality. This includes mold remediation, lead abatement, asbestos removal, and everything that we do.