Community Protection

Lead-Based Paint

Environmental Quality Division provides technical assistance to other City agencies in regards to the management and assessment of lead-based paint at City owned facilities; these services are comprised of lead-based paint inspections, assessments, project designs, and LBP abatement and oversight where necessary and appropriate.

Lead-based paint regulations (USEPA and HUD regulations) are generally directed toward federal housing project and childcare facilities. The intent is to protect the most susceptible population to lead poisoning, children.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which governs workplace related chemical exposures also has regulations and standards which limit exposure to lead, including exposure to lead-based paint. Occupational exposures to lead-based paint can result from:

• Demolition or salvage of structures where materials containing lead are present;
• Removal of lead-based paint such as sand blasting a building surface, and
• Renovation of buildings with lead-based paint; such buildings would have been constructed prior to 1979.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. The metal is widely used for its density, low melting point, corrosion resistance, and opacity to X-rays and atomic radiation. However, despite its many uses, lead is extremely toxic to humans and can cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and even death.

Lead Hazards

Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children 6 years old and under and can also affect adults. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage and can result in impaired mental functions. Lead poisoning in children can result in retarded mental and physical development and reduced attention span. In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body, and may cause problems with reproduction (such as decreased sperm counts). Retarded fetal development can occur at even low blood lead levels. Thus, unborn children, infants, young children, and adults with high blood pressure have been identified as being most vulnerable to the effects of lead.

Eating paint chips is one way young children are exposed to lead. Ingesting and inhaling lead dust that is created as lead-based paint “chalks,” chips, or peels from deteriorated surfaces can expose children to lead. Walking on small paint chips found on the floor, or opening and closing a painted frame window, can also create lead dust that can be inhaled. Lead dust can settle on floor, walls, and furniture. Under these conditions, children can ingest lead dust from hand-to-mouth contact, or in food. Settled lead can re-enter the air through cleaning, such as sweeping or vacuuming, or by movement of people throughout the house.

Lead-based paint can be found on any interior or exterior surface in an older home, particularly on woodwork, doors, and windows. Heavily leaded paint was used in about two-thirds of homes built before 1940, one-half of homes built from 1940 to 1960, and some homes built after 1960.

Lead-Based Paint Ban

In 1978, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lowered the legal lead content in most paint to 0.06% (a trace amount). It banned paint or any other similar surface coating that containt more than 0.06% lead (lead containing paint). It also covers toys or other items intended for use by children and associated furniture.

Where Lead Can Be Found

Many homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead-based paint can be found in residential areas such as:

• In the home, country or suburbs;
• In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing, and
• Inside and outside the house.

Specific areas where Lead-based paint can be found are:

• Soil around the home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.);
• Household dust. (Household dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.);
• Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead. Boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
  • Use only cold water for drinking and cooking;
  • Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
• The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family’s clothes;
• Old painted toys and furniture;
• Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain;
• Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air;
• Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture;
• Folk remedies that contain lead, such as “greta” or “azarcon” used to treat an upset stomach.

Source USEPA Lead Document Website: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/leadinfo.htm

More Information on Lead-Based Paint

It is very important to remember that only professionals trained in hazardous material removal should removed lead-based paint. Consumers should not attempt to remove lead-based paint. Any attempt to remove lead-based paint may create a serious hazard in the house. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) prepared guidelines for removing lead-based paint, which are published in the Federal Register, April 18, 1990, page 1455614614. This information is available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead

Other informative documents about lead and lead-based paint can be found at: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/leadcomp.pdf or http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html.

The Division of Environmental Quality provides technical assistance to other City agencies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations for City owned facilities. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Steve Gonzales at Steve.Gonzales@ci.denver.co.us or at 720-865-5447.