Lead
The most widespread source of lead today is in lead paint that remains
in older buildings. So, if your walls aren’t covered with lead paint,
you’re safe from its toxic effects, right?
Perhaps. But that’s not an absolute given.
While lead was banned from consumer use paint in the late 70’s and is
not often the top layer of paint in most homes and buildings, it often
remains – lurking beneath the surface. For, even though leaded paint may
be covered with non-leaded paint, lead may still be released into the
home environment by peeling, chipping, chalking, friction, or impact.
Risks Beyond Paint
Lead may also be present in your environment as a component in pipes and in solder used in pipe fittings and as a glaze coating over ceramic tiles. Lead can be released through past or ongoing home renovation. Lead-contaminated household dust is the major source of lead exposure to children.
Currently in Ontario, there is no regulatory limit that determines what amount of lead constitutes materials to be considered “lead containing”. The American Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing for Urban Development (HUD) have established a limit for lead in paint of 5,000 mg/kg (0.5 percent by weight) lead content or 1.0 mg/cm2. The 0.5 percent by weight value is determined by laboratory analysis of a bulk sample of the paint.
The following is a brief overview of lead-related services provided by Danson:
- Lead Audit Determine lead concentrations of select building
materials via bulk sampling, and/or wipe sample collection,
for laboratory analysis. Findings outlined within detailed Report.
- Lead Remediation Provide recommendations for lead containing
material removal, assist in acquiring a qualified Contractor, and
overseeing Remediation activities. Remediation activities and inspections
are outlined within detailed Report.
- Air Monitoring Collection of air samples for airborne lead
concentrations determined via laboratory analysis. Findings
outlined within detailed Report.