National Lead Poisoning Prevention week is October 21-27, 2012. This year’s theme is “Lead-Free
Kids for a Healthy Future.”
Childhood blood lead screenings in Massachusetts have revealed lower childhood blood lead levels over time; a byproduct of education, outreach, and diligence by parents, pediatricians, and health intervention specialists.
While highly toxic lead-based paint was banned in 1978, it remains in an estimated 24 million housing units, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This presents a significant exposure risk for children, workers, and consumers. Lead dust and chips resulting from remodeling or painting are poison. Adults who work with leaded materials must protect themselves from lead hazards. Lead poisoning is a preventable medical condition, and preventing it is achievable now more than ever. Proper clean-up of leaded dusts and debris is not unusually difficult or time consuming.
During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) takes the opportunity to remind Massachusetts residents about the legal requirement by contractors to control lead dust incurred during residential renovation activities in pre-1978 residential properties and child-occupied facilities.
Hire only a licensed Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor for your renovation, repair, or painting work on your home or child-occupied facility built prior to 1978. For a list of licensed contractors, visit www.mass.gov/leadsafe.
The DLS provides education and outreach to workers, contractors and property owners. DLS also checks job sites to see that renovators have been trained, are licensed, and are performing the work in a lead-safe manner.
For more information about lead-safe renovation regulations, deleading and adult lead exposures, please visit our website at www.mass.gov/leadsafe.
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