Lead Paint

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 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 our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Much of our exposure comes from human activities including the use of fossil fuels including past use of leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities and past use of lead-based paint in homes. Lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition and cosmetics.

 Lead may enter the environment from these past and current uses. Lead can also be emitted into the environment from industrial sources and contaminated sites, such as former lead smelters. While natural levels of lead in soil range between 50 and 400 parts per million, mining, smelting and refining activities have resulted in substantial increases in lead levels in the environment, especially near mining and smelting sites.

 When lead is released to the air from industrial sources or spark-ignition engine aircraft, it may travel long distances before settling to the ground, where it usually sticks to soil particles. Lead may move from soil into ground water depending on the type of lead compound and the characteristics of the soil.

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of lead.

Children

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
• Slowed growth
• Hearing Problems
• Anemia

In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.

Pregnant Women

 Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother's bones along with calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead. This can result in serious effects to the developing fetus and infant, including:

• Cause the baby to be born too early or too small;
• Hurt the baby’s brain, kidney’s, and nervous system;
• Increase the likelihood of learning or behavioral problems; and
• Put the mother at risk for miscarriage.

Other Adults

Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:

• Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension;
• Decreased kidney function; and
• Reproductive problems (in both men and women).

Our team will perform dust, bulk, air, and soil sampling for the following purposes:

• Conduct lead-paint testing to identify the location of lead based paint  or sealed surfaces within your home, business, school, or organization
• Provide lead dust, water, and soil sampling to determine if other sources of lead are present.
• Provide clearance testing after lead abatement to verify work was done effectively.

• If you rent or own a house or apartment built before 1978
• If you are buying, selling, or renting a condominium, co-op, or home built before 1978
• Before beginning any renovation
• Before disturbing more than two square feet of painted surface
• Before beginning any demolition project on a property built before 1978