Lead Paint

Houses built prior to 1980 may have interior and exterior surfaces that have been at least partially coated with finishes, i.e. paints, containing some lead. Houses built circa 1960 or before are likely to contain some form of lead finish. A known toxin for hundreds of years, lead is particularly harmful to children under the age of seven, but people of any age should avoid ingesting lead-containing products. Companies specializing in lead testing are available to prove the presence of lead paint, but completely disproving its presence is, for the most part, impractical. EPA lead regulations target in-place management and "lead hazard" rather than simply its presence.

Significant amounts of information are available from the EPA, from your municipal health department, or from companies licensed to perform lead paint inspections and "risk assessments". We encourage you to gather as much information as you can, determine your personal risk threshold and set about the testing, assessments and management regimens you feel are warranted.