LEAD-BASED PAINT CONSULTING SERVICES

Elemental lead came to the national forefront of health hazards in the 1960s as a result of an increasing number of incidents of coma, convulsions, and severe poisonings reported in hospitals throughout the country.  Further study by the EPA and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed that the major source of these symptoms was ingestion of lead-based paint, which was used in more than 75 percent of the homes built prior to 1980.  Over four decades later, lead exposure has been deemed to be a suspected carcinogen, also causing damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, reproductive and nervous systems, premature birth, and low birth weight.  Although high-risk employees are of a concern, according to the EPA, children are the highest risk group due to their size suffering symptoms such as learning disabilities, impaired motor skills, hyperactivity and slowed growth.  Lead in homes, schools, or workplace environments can cause fatal consequences.  

Lead-based paints containing about 50% lead were common in the past but after 1978; the CPSC banned the manufacture of paint containing more than 0.06% lead.  There are, however, still a significant number of old buildings and surroundings that have lead based paint that need to be managed by building authorities and property owners.  Lead found in soil is due to contamination from lead-base paint, leaded gasoline, and from the manufacture of lead containing products that potentially contaminate the air, water and food.  Children can be poisoned by accidentally ingesting lead-based paint from deteriorating building materials in schools and adults can be exposed to lead by inhalation of lead dust during workplace or home renovations.  Lead does not biodegrade or decay so it accumulates in the body over time and becomes toxic.

Patriot has the capability and skilled staff of California lead-based paint certified personnel to address your immediate needs when lead exposure is a critical issue of concern ensuring that we are in compliance with OSHA worker protection guidelines. Our staff works as a team in conducting a lead based paint survey and provides comprehensive abatement project design & specifications needed to address the problem.  Whether the recommended solution is abatement or encapsulation, our staff will monitor work performed by the contractor. Patriot conducts abatement management and monitoring followed by a thorough post abatement inspection and clearance sampling using dust wipes which determines when the abatement scope of work is successfully accomplished.