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Home and workplace renovations often include sanding, drilling and demolition, but with many local structures built before 1978, these activities may increase central Illinois residents’ risk of being exposed to lead.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to help protect against this risk. Wendy Chan, program manager at Chicago-based OAI Inc., a non-profit workforce development organization, presented on the EPA’s requirement of more stringent lead-safe practices Saturday at the Central Illinois Green Expo at Illinois Central College.
“The EPA now requires, with a few exceptions, that all paid contractors — including landlords — renovating or disturbing paint in a pre-1978 home, follow the new EPA laws regarding lead-safe work practices,” Chan said.
The laws, which she added have been active since 2010 and enforced since early this year, require that contractors working on homes or corporate projects have at least one EPA certified renovator on site. Individuals are certified through an eight-hour training course informing them on the dangers of lead paint, how to reduce exposure to individuals, minimize dust and leave the work area clean.
“Many studies have shown a direct link between lead poisoning and renovation dust,” Chan said. “Children 0 to 6 years old will absorb 50 percent of the lead that enters their body because their bodies are developing and confuse lead for other actual vital nutrients. They could possibly suffer from symptoms that could plague them for the rest of their lives.”
Pregnant women and workers who are exposed to high amounts of lead or lead dust are also at high risk of lead poisoning.
Lead is a toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. Because of its abundance and low cost, it was widely used in a variety of products, including paint, for many years. Lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental illness of children and is caused primarily by lead-based paint in older homes. Because about 75 percent of Illinois homes built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint, the state has higher rates of lead poisoning among its children than any other state in the nation.
“In 2008 alone, more than 5,000 Illinois children were identified with elevated blood lead levels,” said Sara Sparkman, community relations manager with the Tazewell County Health Department. “Anybody who is doing any renovations should be very mindful of these regulations and the risk, especially if there are children in the home.”
Symptoms of lead poisoning include stomach aches, hyperactivity, sleeping problems and they could appear as a cold or flu. Long-term affects include learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavioral problems, stunted growth and hearing impairment. Severe cases can cause convulsions, coma and death.
Home and workplace renovations often include sanding, drilling and demolition, but with many local structures built before 1978, these activities may increase central Illinois residents’ risk of being exposed to lead.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to help protect against this risk. Wendy Chan, program manager at Chicago-based OAI Inc., a non-profit workforce development organization, presented on the EPA’s requirement of more stringent lead-safe practices Saturday at the Central Illinois Green Expo at Illinois Central College.
“The EPA now requires, with a few exceptions, that all paid contractors — including landlords — renovating or disturbing paint in a pre-1978 home, follow the new EPA laws regarding lead-safe work practices,” Chan said.
The laws, which she added have been active since 2010 and enforced since early this year, require that contractors working on homes or corporate projects have at least one EPA certified renovator on site. Individuals are certified through an eight-hour training course informing them on the dangers of lead paint, how to reduce exposure to individuals, minimize dust and leave the work area clean.
“Many studies have shown a direct link between lead poisoning and renovation dust,” Chan said. “Children 0 to 6 years old will absorb 50 percent of the lead that enters their body because their bodies are developing and confuse lead for other actual vital nutrients. They could possibly suffer from symptoms that could plague them for the rest of their lives.”
Pregnant women and workers who are exposed to high amounts of lead or lead dust are also at high risk of lead poisoning.
Lead is a toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. Because of its abundance and low cost, it was widely used in a variety of products, including paint, for many years. Lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental illness of children and is caused primarily by lead-based paint in older homes. Because about 75 percent of Illinois homes built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint, the state has higher rates of lead poisoning among its children than any other state in the nation.
“In 2008 alone, more than 5,000 Illinois children were identified with elevated blood lead levels,” said Sara Sparkman, community relations manager with the Tazewell County Health Department. “Anybody who is doing any renovations should be very mindful of these regulations and the risk, especially if there are children in the home.”
Symptoms of lead poisoning include stomach aches, hyperactivity, sleeping problems and they could appear as a cold or flu. Long-term affects include learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavioral problems, stunted growth and hearing impairment. Severe cases can cause convulsions, coma and death.
Childhood lead poisoning, Chan added, is a completely preventable disease.
“By just following a few safety guidelines, we could protect them from being poisoned and the long-term health effects including possibly nervous system disorders, lowered IQ, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, speech disorders, behavioral disorders and life-long health problems,” she said.
However, with the EPA’s new guidelines in place, health concerns are no longer the only issue when it comes to lead.
“There’s fines of up to $32,500 per violation for non-compliance and possibly an additional $32,500 fine per violation if you’re found to be willfully or intentionally violating the new laws,” Chan said. “I believe the EPA just began enforcement and there are right now just a handful of companies under investigation. Enforcement comes in various forms, from EPA-driven investigations, to people reporting violators to the EPA, to investigations that began after a child was found to be lead-poisoned. Also, some counties, cities, and townships are requiring proof of certification prior to pulling permits.”
To determine if a home has lead-based paint, homeowners can test by using an EPA approved test kit, found at epa.gov/lead/pubs/testkit.htm.
For more information, visit leadsafeillinois.org.
