EPA precautions to protect children’s potential exposure to lead dust

New England regional spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) David Deegan says.

“That requires contractors or other folks working in any house or building that was constructed before 1978 to take additional precautions to protect children from possible exposure to lead paint and lead dust or debris that might be the result of a home construction or renovation project.”

2008, the new EPA rule was announced and been in development for years before that, arranges in place further protective work practices to bounds children’s potential exposure to lead dust.

1978, lead-based paint was prohibited for residential use, amid concerns about issues it can have on children – especially those 6 years old and below.

“The primary concern with lead poisoning for children is its effect on the developing brain and especially its effect on cognitive function. And what’s very well known and very well established is how lead poisoning causes a deficit in IQ,” says Maine state toxicologist Dr. Andrew Smith.

As a result, the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule also employs to those acting similar work on facilities occupied by children less than 6 years of age, such as schools and day-care centers constructed prior to 1978.

Contractors will be asked to give ear an all-day training course instructing them to follow certain safety processes.

“They’re taught to minimize the amount of lead dust that they create, to contain the lead dust and to clean up appropriately, because such a very small amount of lead dust left behind will poison a small child,” says state official Carol Cifrino overseeing the new certification process.

Cifrino handles the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s lead and asbestos hazard prevention programs.
The state official says the new federal requirements are a long direction from being met.

“EPA has to approve the training providers, and to date EPA has only approved one training provider based in Maine And that training provider has been offering the courses since December and he’s been working six days a week, pretty much, offering the courses,” Cifrino says.

She figures there are around 20,000 people who require training, and it will likely take another twelve month before they have all been certified.

A painting contractor from Hampden, Maine, Roland Hussey has taken the course and is awaiting his certificate. The new prerequisites, Hussey says, are going to drive up costs, getting in more expensive for people in aged houses to hire pros.

“I personally think it’s going to cost additional money for people that want some work done in their house. And they might be forced to do it themselves to stay way from the additional costs contractors have to charge them to work in these older houses, which there’s a lot of them around in the state of Maine,” Hussey says.

According to EPA, contractors should follow these three simple procedures until the new rule takes effect,: minimize dust; contain the work area; and clean up thoroughly.

The federal agency, along with state partners, is binding a public information session on the new EPA rule.