Healthy Homes and Lead Control: Children are especially at risk
by Gwen O’Neill
© Darryl Brooks | Dreamstime.com
Did you know that in the ’80s, lead exposure was the most significant environmental health problem for children in California? Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, hearing loss and even violent behavior.
We are exposed to lead through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, as well as through contaminated soil, deteriorating paint and dust. Lead can enter our bodies when we breathe or swallow lead particles or dust, and it was used in countless products such as paint, gasoline and water pipes.
The first acts to deal with this problem were established in 1986 and 1989. The California legislature found that not much was known about lead exposure damage in children. One in every 25 children in the nation was thought to have abnormal levels of lead in their blood. The legislature also realized the long-term costs required to deal with the problem, if neglected, would be huge.
Now, as of April 2010, any remodeling or demolition work that disturbs painted surfaces of houses or childcare facilities built before 1978 must be done by a contractor who has been certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This certification requirement applies to everyone from a building inspector to workers who do repainting or general construction on surfaces painted with lead-based paints. Contractors face fines of up to $37,500 per day for not following the guidelines.
Bob Regan of HB Building and Design in Montara was recently certified under the new state licensing classifications and said, “Now the problem becomes how to implement the rules and protect the homeowners. There are very few details when it comes to where and how to dispose of the materials, who is going to inspect the removal process, when to have a homeowner sign a waiver to exclude the contractor from the preventative measures detailed in the ruling. And should the homeowner now have to pay a premium for this part of the service? It involves significant costs in labor and materials to implement the whole process.”
Jane Regan said, “As a company, we agree that lead was a problem, and it specifically involves old paint. But where do we bring the windows and doors once they are removed and enveloped in double-wrapped heavy plastic? We are not sure which of the dumpsites will accept them. We used to just separate the glass and frames and take them to Ox Mountain.
“If a pregnant woman or a baby live in the home you are working on, the mitigation measures must be adhered to. If the home is empty, they can easily sign a waiver so the stringent mitigation efforts can be eliminated. We are also looking at the mitigation costs. The Visqueen wrapping which we are required to use can cost about $50 per roll, and you can go through quite a few rolls when replacing windows or taking down walls in a house. Plus the additional demo time to double-wrap and tape seal all the stuff you’re disposing of is extra. Then, any subcontractors working with us, such as the painter, electrician, plumber, all have to be certified, too. We’ve received a card but we also have to register with the state that we’ve been certified, and have heard it takes months to get your state certification, just because of furloughs and backlogs.”
Lou Palladino of Palladino Painting in Half Moon Bay has also taken steps to ensure his company complies with the new law. He said, “I have taken the certification course along with five of my painting staff, and have filed with the EPA for a company certificate.
“The actual requirements are not real demanding but there are specific protocols that must be implemented such as employee protection, and protection/containment of all dust and debris on a job site. This can prove difficult if there are a lot of physical items, such as furniture in an interior, or landscaping on an exterior, that may make it difficult to contain. Basically, containment means placing heavy plastic barriers around the work area, and implementing work with a dust-free process. The cleaning detail is critical as the new law really targets leaving no dust or debris behind on the job site.
“The context behind the new law is to create a more practical, universally accepted standard for curbing pollution of lead containing dust and debris in residential and child care environments.”
Palladino explained that the main ways lead enters the body are through breathing or eating dust that contains lead. This lead exposure can happen to the workers who create the dust, or children who ingest the dust by putting their hands in their mouths. Palladino said that the groups most vulnerable to the neurological effects of lead poisoning are children under age 6 and the fetuses of pregnant women.
Palladino said, “We are developing protocols and techniques that are in compliance with these new laws, and it does affect our business. Any property built prior to 1978 must be considered as a lead hazard, and the law applies. We must notify clients of this, and build the additional procedures into the work scope. It does add cost, but it is the law and all companies involved in any aspect of home improvement or repair, where lead-based paint will be disturbed, are obligated to comply.
“Many companies are unaware, as is most of the public. So far, it has mainly been a surprise for most of my clients to discover this issue.
“All persons involved in repairs to, or painting of, residential structures or facilities with children built prior to 1978 should definitely educate themselves about the issue and the new law, to understand and evaluate the potential risks and liabilities … so they can make educated, informed decisions.
“Regarding the new laws, they come at a difficult time as people’s budgets are on average smaller than in the recent past, and this law forces contractors to adopt more time-consuming practices. However, the context of the law is in line with creating a healthier environment to live in, and I don’t know many parents with young children who would not appreciate these safe workplace standards in their homes.”
Consumers can go online and read materials about the construction process and guidelines on how to hire a contractor. They can also check the license status of the contractors they hire.
On the Web:
http://tinyurl.com/cslb-press-release
http://tinyurl.com/ca-childhood-lead
