Lead Abatement Tools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that lead is a dangerous toxic metal that may cause birth defects, developmental disabilities, seizure disorders and even death by lead poisoning. Lead was once used in almost all interior and exterior paints; it flows into streams, rivers and groundwater from mining and drilling operations, is emitted from automobiles and factories into the air we breathe and is both naturally occurring and introduced by mankind into dirt and dust. The EPA encourages homeowners and citizens in general to hire professionals to perform lead abatement procedures rather than attempt do-it-yourself lead removal.

Paint

• When removing lead-based paint, use heavy plastic sheeting to cover all the open doorways, windows and heat and cooling vents in the room you are working in. Use a hand truck or other furniture mover to take everything from carpets to furniture out of the room. Be sure to use a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health-approved respirator, goggles, coverall suit and head cover at all times. Whether you opt to use a scraper and wire brush, liquid paint remover, power sander or heat stripper--or a combination of all of these tools--all paint chips, dust and debris must be vacuumed from the room and your apparel utilizing a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum.

Water

• Removing lead suspended in your drinking water will require a number of steps. The first step is to determine where the lead originates. A plumber can tell you if the lead source is in your water supply or from the plumbing pipes; if it's in the pipes, the plumbing may need to be replaced. If your water comes from a contaminated well, connect to a city water supply if possible. If these remedies are not feasible, you will have to treat your water supply with filters on each tap. Buy only the carbon, distilling or reverse osmosis filters specifically designed and rated for lead removal.

Air

• If you have lead suspended with dust particles in the air indoors, you are breathing and swallowing it. To keep the lead dust under control, use damp mops and dusters to keep all surfaces as clean and dust-free as possible. Use high-phosphate detergents and wash clothes, linens and stuffed animal toys regularly to remove dust. Install mechanical or electronic air filters to clean the particles from the air. HEPA filters are the best mechanical filters; electrostatic and ionizer filters are good examples of electronic cleaners that will remove lead dust particles.