| There are do-it-yourself kits available. However, the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission has not evaluated any of these kits. One home
test kit uses sodium sulfide solution. This procedure requires you to
place a drop of sodium sulfide solution on a paint chip. The paint chip
slowly turns darker if lead is present. There are problems with this
test, however. Other metals may cause false positive results, and resins
in the paint may prevent the sulfide from causing the paint chip to
change color. Thus, the presence of lead may not be correctly indicated.
In addition the darkening may be detected only on very light-colored
paint.
Another in-home test requires a trained professional who can operate
the equipment safely. This test uses X-ray fluorescence to determine
if the paint contains lead. Although the test can be done in your home,
it should be done only by professionals trained by the equipment manufacturer
or who have passed a state or local government training course, since
the equipment contains radioactive materials. In addition, in some tests,
the method has not been reliable.
Consumers may choose to have a testing laboratory test a paint sample
for lead. Lab testing is considered more reliable than other methods.
Lab tests may cost from $20 to $50 per sample. To have the lab test
for lead paint, consumers may:
- Get sample containers from the lab or use re-sealable plastic bags.
Label the containers or bags with the consumer's name and the location
in the house from which each paint sample was taken. Several samples
should be taken from each affected room (see HUD Guidelines discussed
below).
- Use a sharp knife to cut through the edges of the sample paint.
The lab should tell you the size of the sample needed. It will probably
be about 2 inches by 2 inches.
- Lift off the paint with a clean putty knife and put it into the
container. Be sure to take a sample of all layers of paint, since
only the lower layers may contain lead. Do not include any of the
underlying wood, plaster, metal, and brick.
- Wipe the surface and any paint dust with a wet cloth or paper towel
and discard the cloth or towel.
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends
that action to reduce exposure should be taken when the lead in paint
is greater than 0.5% by lab testing or greater than 1.0 milligrams per
square centimeter by X-ray fluorescence. Action is especially important
when paint is deteriorating or when infants, children, or pregnant women
are present. Consumers can reduce exposure to lead-based paint.
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| If you
have lead-based paint, you should take steps to reduce your exposure
to lead. You can:
- Have
the painted item replaced. You can replace a door or other easily removed
item if you can do it without creating lead dust. Items that are difficult
to remove should be replaced by professionals who will control and contain
lead dust.
- Cover
the lead-based paint. You can spray the surface with a sealant or cover
it with gypsum wallboard. However, painting over lead-based paint with
non-lead paint is not a long-term solution. Even though the lead-based
paint may be covered by non-lead paint, the lead-based paint may continue
to loosen from the surface below and create lead dust. The new paint
may also partially mix with the lead-based paint, and lead dust will
be released when the new paint begins to deteriorate.
- Have
the lead-based paint removed. Have professionals trained in removing
lead-based paint do this work. Each of the paint-removal methods (sandpaper,
scrapers, chemicals, sandblasters, and torches or heat guns) can produce
lead fumes or dust. Fumes or dust can become airborne and be inhaled
or ingested. Wet methods help reduce the amount of lead dust. Removing
moldings, trim, window sills, and other painted surfaces for professional
paint stripping outside the home may also create dust. Be sure the professionals
contain the lead dust. Wet-wipe all surfaces to remove any dust or paint
chips. Wet-clean the area before re-entry. You can remove a small amount
of lead-based paint if you can avoid creating any dust. Make sure the
surface is less than about one square foot (such as a window sill).
Any job larger than about one square foot should be done by professionals.
Make sure you can use a wet method (such as a liquid paint stripper).
Click here to read more about lead paint
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