EPA Announces Stricter Lead Standards for Childcare Facilities and Pre-1978 Homes

Late last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 childcare facilities and homes.

According to the EPA:
Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure, which can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more. In adults, exposure can cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may cause cancer. EPA estimates that this rule will reduce the lead exposures of up to nearly 1.2 million people every year, of which 178,000 to 326,000 are children under the age of six.

The final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that EPA considers hazardous to any reportable level measured by an EPA-recognized laboratory. The rule also lowers the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills, and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs to the levels listed below. The rule is strengthening these standards from:

• 10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft²) to 5 µg/ft² for floors
• 100 µg/ft² to 40 µg/ft² for window sills
• 400 µg/ft² to 100 µg/ft² for window troughs

“These new national lead levels reflect standards implemented by New York City back in 2021,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “Lead-based paints and dusts contaminated with lead are still some of the most common sources of lead exposure. Fortunately, testing for lead can help to identify exposure risks in and around buildings so they can be safely removed or mitigated. This not only protects children, building occupants, and workers, these services also help to keep renovation, abatement, and construction companies in compliance with health and safety regulations to avoid costly noncompliance penalties.”

CTSI continues to offer lead-based paint testing, consulting, and training services. Their EPA lead certified risk assessors and inspectors have successfully performed thousands of projects for daycare centers, construction firms, landlords, facility managers, schools, universities, and other clients. CTSI’s services comply with the NYC Department of Health, HUD, and EPA guidelines.

To learn more about lead or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective solutions. This commitment has been furthered by CTSI’s reputation for fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high-quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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