Lead abatement in the United States

Lead abatement is an activity to reduce levels of lead, particularly in the home environment, generally to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards, in order to reduce or eliminate incidents of lead poisoning.

Lead abatement may be undertaken in response to orders by state or local government. It requires specialized techniques that local construction contractors typically do not have. It includes activities such as lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments and lead-based paint removal.

In the United States, lead abatement activities are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Individuals and firms that conduct lead-based paint activities, including abatement, must be certified.

Lead abatement is distinguished from Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) programs, which are typically performed at the option of the property owner for aesthetic or other reasons, or as an interim control to minimize lead hazards. RPP programs are not designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards.

History of lead poisoning in the U.S.

The reason that lead paint is such a common issue is because of its durability and widespread use.[1] It was constantly endorsed by local and state governments until the 1970s, despite domestic occurrences of lead poisoning and reports from European countries that revealed its toxicity. By 1940, it was commonly associated with negative effects. It was only in the 1970s when the U.S. took action against lead based paints.[1][2]

Lead timeline

Year Event
1887 US medical authorities diagnose childhood lead poisoning.
1904 Child lead poisoning linked to lead-based paints.
1909 France, Belgium and Austria ban white-lead interior paint.
1914 Pediatric lead-paint poisoning death from eating crib paint is described.
1921 National Lead Company admits lead is a poison.
1922 League of Nations bans white-lead interior paint; US declines to adopt.
1943 Report concludes eating lead paint chips causes physical and neurological disorders, behavior, learning and intelligence problems in children.
1951 Baltimore banned the use of lead pigment in interior paint in Baltimore housing, the first such restriction in the country.
1955 Public health officials and organizations adopted a voluntary national standard to prohibit, in effect, the use of lead pigments in interior residential paints.
1971 Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act passed.[3]
1978 Lead-based house paint banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission[4]

Causes of lead poisoning

The chances of a house bought in the U.S. having lead based on the year it was painted.

Lead can be found in dust, in water, in the air, in gasoline, and in the soil. Lead is a naturally occurring element that is cheap in relation to its alternatives; because of this it can be found in many things such as batteries, stained glass, jewelry, pottery, ammunition, pipes, cans, toys, and fishing sinkers. Mining, burning fossil fuels, and manufacturing has increased the production of lead.[5]

The occupation and location of an individual can greatly increase the chances of them experiencing lead poisoning.[5] Workers in the auto repair, mining, battery, manufacturing, painting, pipe fitting, and construction industries are more exposed to lead on a regular basis. People who are poor or in developing countries have a higher chance of experiencing lead poisoning because of gentrification and environmental racism regulating them into areas that haven't been evaluated to meet the current standards .[5]

Even though lead paint usage has been abolished, there are still houses and buildings that have not had the lead paint removed. The removal of lead paint may also cause symptoms because of the dust created in the process that still contains unhealthy amounts of lead.[5]

Contemporary lead crises in the U.S.

Flint, Michigan, has become relatively famous because of its lead infested water. Poorly treated water and decaying pipes caused lead levels to rise significantly and become extremely dangerous if ingested.[6] Unfortunately other cities are suspected of having a relatively poor water situation because of recent analysis of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) records by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). It has been estimated that in 2015 over 18 million people had been served by 5,363 community water systems that contained water that did not pass the Lead and Copper Rule's regulations.[7]

An additional 33 cities around the US have been investigated for violating EPA guidance when it comes to properly testing their water systems for lead contamination. The results of analyzing documents found that correspond to the recent water testing operations in these cities show that 23 cities were instructed to run water slowly, which reduces the amount of lead dislodged from the pipes. 7 cities were instructed to remove aerators from spouts before water was ran, which reduces lead content. 21 cities were instructed to "pre-flush" before testing done by the EPA, which influences the amount of lead the EPA can detect.[8] This information reveals a previously less known issue that plagues many U.S. citizens.

Lead paint mitigation options

Lead paint removal can cost 8 to 15 dollars per square foot.[9] A kit offered by the EPA containing lead test costs 25 dollars.[10] After a house has been discovered to contain lead, its owner has four options they can pursue to prevent lead poisoning.

Encapsulation

The least expensive and least complex strategy. A paint like coating is brushed or rolled unto the lead surface to create a watertight bond that seals the lead.[9] It is not the most sustainable option, since normal wear and tear throughout the years will eventually weaken the coating.

Enclosure

The lead surface is covered with drywall, aluminium, or vinyl cladding. Similar to encapsulation, it is considered to be relatively cheaper and not reliable or sustainable.[9]

Removal

The lead can be removed with techniques such as wire brushing or wet hand scraping with liquid paint removers. Contractors may use an electric sander equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum or a heat gun. Burning, torching, and machine sanding without a HEPA attachment is forbidden.[9] This option is the second most expensive and the second most sustainable.

Replacement

The most expensive option, since it calls for the entirety of whatever the lead paint is covering to be completely removed and disposed of.[9] This is arguably the most sustainable, since removal requires many resources to be used to clean the area of lead, and also produces lead dust and chips which are still very dangerous.

Externality costs

The savings from cleaning up lead dwarf the costs. Peer reviewed research estimates a range of $17 to $221 saved for each dollar spent on lead hazard control.[11] The benefits include reduced health care costs, extended lives (and earnings), increased tax revenue, reductions in crime, and more. [12] The immense costs of inaction make lead hazard control highly economical. This is even more true in for the "lowest hanging fruit", like removing lead from all fuels including in lower income countries. The United Nations and the World Health Organization have been leading efforts to eliminate lead in paint since 2002.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Lah, Katarina (2011-05-08). "History of Lead Use". Toxipedia. Seattle, WA: Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders.
  2. ↑ "The History of the Use of Lead-Based Paint". Understanding Lead Pigment Litigation. leadlawsuits.com. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  3. ↑ United States. Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act. Pub.L. 91–695. Approved 1971-01-13.
  4. ↑ U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. "Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint." Federal Register, 42 FR 44199, 1977-09-01. 16 C.F.R. 1303. Bans residential lead-based paint manufactured after February 27, 1978.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Symptoms and causes - Lead poisoning - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  6. ↑ Keller, Andrew. "United Way estimates cost of helping children $100M". Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  7. ↑ Olson, Erik; Fedinick, Kristi Pullen (June 2016). "What's in Your Water? Flint and Beyond" (PDF). New York: Natural Resources Defense Council.
  8. ↑ Milman, Oliver; Glenza, Jessica (2016-06-02). "At least 33 US cities used water testing 'cheats' over lead concerns". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lead Paint Removal: Options and Costs". Houselogic. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  10. ↑ "Lead Paint Test Kits: Cheap & Easy to Use". Houselogic. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  11. ↑ Gould, E (2009). "Childhood Lead Poisoning: Conservative Estimates of the Social and Economic Benefits of Lead Hazard Control". Environmental Health Perspectives. 117 (7): 1162–1167. doi:10.1289/ehp.0800408. PMC 2717145. PMID 19654928.
  12. ↑ Gould, E (2009). "Childhood Lead Poisoning: Conservative Estimates of the Social and Economic Benefits of Lead Hazard Control". Environmental Health Perspectives. 117 (7): 1162–1167. doi:10.1289/ehp.0800408. PMC 2717145. PMID 19654928.
  13. ↑ http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/gaelp_leg_control/en/
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