Over 80% of all housing in the U.S. built before 1978 contains some lead-based paint on the interior or exterior. If managed properly, lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard. If allowed to deteriorate, however, lead from the paint or lead dust can create serious health hazards. Similarly, without proper precautions, renovators of surfaces with lead-based paint release lead dust.

If you are buying a home or renting an apartment built before 1978 you should receive a  pamphlet containing general information on lead-based paint hazards. This information is being made available under a new federal program that started in 1996. The goals of this program are to help you reduce the hazards of lead-based paint in your home and to prevent small children from being poisoned by lead from paint.

If you want to find out if your house contains lead-based paint or a lead hazard, you may want to hire someone to inspect your home for lead paint and to evaluate the paint for any hazards.

New EPA recognized home test kits are available as well. Click here for more information.

__________________________________

Q. What will I learn if I hire a lead professional?

A. A certified lead professional offers two services: 1) an inspection, or 2) a risk assessment. Some lead professional may be certified or licensed to conduct both. A paint inspection will tell you the lead content of every painted surface in your home. However, an inspection won’t tell you whether the paint poses a hazard or how you should deal with it.

Q. Are lead professional required to be certified or licensed?

A. Several states have developed certification or licensing programs for individuals who identify and assess lead-based paint for hazards. Information on obtaining a list of state certified lead-based paint inspectors, risk assessors, and contractors is listed below.

            Boston, Ma – (617) 565-3420
            Edison, NJ – (908) 321-6671
            Philadelphia, PA – (215) 566-2084
            Atlanta, GA – (404) 562-8998
            Chicago, IL – (312) 886-7836
            Dallas, TX – (214) 665-7577
            Kansas City, KS – (913) 551-7518
            Denver, CO – (303) 312-6021
            San Francisco, CA – (415) 744-1117
            Seattle, WA – (206) 553-1985

For states not listed or additional information contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD

Q. What if my state doesn’t have a certification or licensing program?

A. If your state doesn’t have a certification or licensing program yet, and you need to locate a lead professional, here are some suggestions:
 
• Hire a contractor who has been certified or licensed in a state that does have a program
           
• If you can’t find a contractor who’s been certified or licensed by another state, hire a contractor who has been trained to conduct lead-based inspections or risk assessments. Look for workers whose training was based on course work developed by EPA or approved by your state.

 • Contact the Nation Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD
 
 • Keep in mind that in addition to states, some cities and counties may require you to use certified or licensed contractors to conduct lead work. If you are required to use a certified or licensed professional and your state doesn’t have a program, you will need to work with county or local officials to locate a professional who meets their requirements.

Q. Is there a difference between a certified or licensed contractor and a contractor who is only trained?

A. Yes, there is a difference. To obtain a certification or license, most states require applicants to meet three standards. One standard requires an applicant to possess certain experience and/or skills. Second, an applicant is required to be trained to conduct specific lead-related tasks. The training an applicant receives typically must be approved by the state or an organization recognized by the state. The third and final means to ensure the competency of an applicant is a certification exam.

Individuals who have been trained, but who are uncertified might not possess work experience relevant to conducting lead-based paint activities. Nor have they passed an examination to test their proficiency. For that reason, it is especially important to check the references and credentials of uncertified contractors.

Q. What if the lead paint in my home poses a hazard?

A. You may have a range of options for addressing lead hazards in your home. A risk assessment report should contain recommendations on how to control lead-based paint hazards safely. If you have been advised to remove or control lead paint, use the same advice provided in this pamphlet when looking for a lead abatement contractor.

_______________________________

Click here to visit the EPA’s Locate Certified Lead Inspection and Abatement Professionals state listing. http://epa.gov/lead/pubs/locate.htm

Much of the information from this page was cited from the EPA’s Hiring a Lead Professional Pamphlet on January 2012. Click here for EPA’s PDF pamphlet.