DELEADING – LEAD PAINT REMOVAL

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals causing health effects. Lead can be found in all parts of the environment and even inside our homes. Lead has historically been used in paint due to its durability, color enhancement, and even as a mold inhibitor.

Lead Based Paint (LBP) is defined as paint with a lead concentration of greater than or equal to 0.5% by dry weight by the EPA. Homes built prior to 1978 (Target Housing) are presumed to contain LBP unless proven otherwise by a Licensed Lead Inspector. Commercial and Industrial coatings in older structures can also contain high levels of lead and even today can still contain some level of lead. OSHA does not recognize a minimum concentration of lead in paint since worker exposures and contamination from damaged coatings can occur at very low levels. Therefore, if not handled properly, any level of lead can potentially lead to health effects. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. For children, even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia. Adults may be exposed to lead dust by spending time in areas where lead paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.

Abide, Inc. is a Licensed Deleading Contractor in Connecticut and Massachusetts and trained in accordance with the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules. With over 25 years of experience dealing with the safe handling of lead paint, Abide has worked in commercial and industrial buildings, institutions, and health care facilities in addition to residential homes. Abide has the practical knowledge to analyze lead hazards and develop short-term and long-term solutions for deleading. The condition of each property is documented, the regulatory requirements are reviewed, the rights and safety of building occupants are discussed, and the most cost effective methods for the specfic property are developed.