LEAD IN PAINT

Ingesting lead paint and breathing in lead dust is the #1 contributor to lead poisoning, which causes brain damage and affects over 200,000 children each year.

The PRO-LAB® Lead in Paint Test Kit:

• Offers testing for either suspect lead paint or lead dust.
• Meets EPA Title X requirements for real estate transactions.
• Simple to use test utilizes atomic absorption spectrometer via graphite furnace utilizing EPA method SW846 7000B.
• Offers Lab results within 2 weeks.
• $40.00 Lab fee Required For Analysis.

PRO-LAB® Test Kits are available to the general public at over 40,000 leading home centers, hardware stores, pharmacy chains, supermarkets, and a wide category of specialty outlets. Stores include The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Ace Hardware, True Value, Do It Best, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Giant Eagle, and CVS.

If you cannot find the PRO-LAB® Lead In Paint & Dust Test Kit inn any of the stores above, please call 954-384-4446 to purchase.

More than 200,000 children in the United States contract lead poisoning every year. Lead poisoning limits a child’s ability to learn, even after a short term exposure. It is estimated that a child’s I.Q. drops 3 points for every 10 micrograms per decileter of lead in their blood. If the child receives prompt medical attention, chances for recovery are very good. However, if the exposure goes undetected, it can bring about permanent damage, causing anything from learning disabilities to severe mental retardation and even death. Children under the age of 7 are much more susceptible to lead poisoining because their developing bodies absorb the lead at 4 times the rate of an adult.

Compounding this medical danger is the fact that one of the most common places for children to become exposed to lead is in the home. The major sources of in-home contamination are lead-based paints, tap water, colorful ceramic dishes, soiland airborne lead particles. Because you can’t see, taste or smell lead, everyone is potentially at risk. This brochure was developed by PRO-LAB Inc. to provide you with a primary knowledge about the risk of lead contamination. The people at PRO-LAB encourage you to thoroughly educate yourself on in-home environmental dangers and learn how to protect yourself and your family.

Have Your Child Tested

Health officials recommend that children receive a blood test for lead contamination by the age of one and continue testing every couple of years. However, if you suspect that your home may be contaminated with lead, have the child tested at six months old. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 4 children under the age of 7 have lead in their blood. Contact your local health department for the location of medical attention and testing facilities.

Lead Paint Contamination

Lead-based paint is a notorious culprit. Many homes/apartments built before 1960 have heavily leaded paint and homes/apartments built prior to 1978 may also contain paint with dangerously high levels of lead. Lead based paint can be on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, furniture (cribs), children’s toys and even floors. As it peels, paint chips are loosened and can be ingested by children. Another contamination source from lead is lead dust particles. Painted surface friction points, such as window frames and sills, create paint dust. Household renovation activities can also create high levels of paint dust. When a lead–based paint surface is broken, sanded or scraped, it breaks into tiny, sometimes invisible, pieces that children can swallow or inhale.

Ceramic dishes and mugs are another area of concern. Some ceramic dishware, especially those imported from foreign countries, may contain lead contaminated glaze. The lead can leach into food or liquids, particularly acidic foods. Foods stored or cooked in these containers are at higher risk of contamination.

Reduce the Risk of Contamination

The initial step in preventing lead poisoning is determining whether or not your house and household items contain lead. All suspected surfaces and dishware should be tested. Home test kits, such as PRO-LAB’s Professional Lead Surface Test Kit and Professional Test Kit for Paint & Dust provide a simple, accurate and easy first line of defense against lead contamination. Professional Lead Surface Test Kit and Professional Test Kit for Paint & Dust is the only safe, non-toxic lead test kit available. All surfaces including walls, windows, ceilings, floors and ceramics should be tested.

Good housecleaning is another important element. Keep all of your children’s play areas as dust–free as possible. Frequently wash floors and windows with phosphate–rich cleansers, such as automatic dish washing detergents. Keep all toys clean by washing them often.

If you discover the presence of lead–based paint in your house, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Contact your local health department and seek help from a professional who has special training in lead paint removal or encapsulation.