Should Pregnant Women’s Homes be Tested for Lead Paint in Charlotte?

Get The Lead Out® in Charlotte has been noticing some interesting trends in protecting children, pregnant women and unborn infants against the dangers of exposure to lead paint and lead paint poisoning.  One of these really interesting programs is taking place in St. Louis, MO.

In a nutshell, the program in the city of St. Louis tests the homes of pregnant women for the presence of lead paint and removes any before the baby is born.  This type of “SWAT-team” approach can eliminate or reduce the children’s exposure to lead paint.

Get The Lead Out® knows that approximately 250,000 children are exposed to dangerous levels of lead paint and become poisoned.  Experts report that as many as twice that amount, or 500,000, children are affected.  Lead permanently damages a child’s brain, lowering IQ and causing lifelong behavior problems and learning disabilities.  (Source, March 2, 2012 article from NPR)

Even though the United States has had a real effort of removing lead paint from substandard housing, there are approximately 24 million houses and apartments in the US that are still thought to have lead paint, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Congress recently cut funding for lead testing of children from $30 million to $2 million.  This money is given to local health departments to pay for children’s blood tests.  You can read more about the funding cut here.

How Can Get The Lead Out® Help?

Get The Lead Out® is an experienced, professional lead paint inspection, lead paint testing and lead paint removal company.  We have more than 18 years of experience working with all types of housing and community housing neighborhoods.

Lead paint poisoning and the detection and removal of dangerous lead paint has become one of our country’s most highly regulated environmental issues.  We have performed thousands of lead inspections, site assessments, and risk assessment projects.  Our clients trust us for providing cost-saving, environmentally-effective and safe solutions to locate and remove any lead paint discovered.

A typical lead paint test from Get The Lead Out® starts at $400 for an average 1,500 sq.ft. home.  Our basic $400 lead paint test includes professional testing with one of our licensed, experienced Lead Assessors, along with a comprehensive inspection report that will contain the lead-based paint findings from your home.

To learn more about lead paint testing, or to schedule your lead paint test, please call Kathryn Hubicki at 704-376-3594 or email koh@gettheleadout.biz.  We can help!

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Protecting Charlotte Children from the Affects of Lead Paint Poisoning

It’s a national statistic that approximately 1 million children are affected by lead poisoning annually.  Get The Lead Out® in Charlotte wants you to know that lead poisoning is 100% preventable when you know what to look for and what to do.

There is a good chance that any home, building, school or daycare center built before 1978 in Charlotte contains some lead paint.  And just a  few particles of dust from lead-based paint are enough to poison a child, with the effects possibly lasting a lifetime.

There are “danger zones” around your home where the presence of lead paint can be found or introduced.  The graphic below is an interactive website tool that can show you and your children where the presence of lead paint might be found in your home.  Click on the graphic to visit the actual website.

Q. How does lead get into my children's bodies?

A. It enters the body through the mouth or nose. Lead is not absorbed through the skin.

Q. How do I know if my children have been exposed?

A. Sometimes there are no symptoms. The best way is to get a blood test from your pediatrician. Many people mistake the symptoms of lead poisoning for other common illnesses like a cold or flu.

Visit this website link to view an entire section of content on how to protect our children from lead paint exposure and lead paint poisoning.

If you suspect that your home may contain lead paint, please call Pete Hubicki with Get The Lead Out® at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz to arrange a lead paint inspection and test.  We will uncover whether your home tests positive for the presence of lead paint!

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Charlotte’s Lead Paint Inspection & Lead Paint Testing Company says to Check for Lead Paint Before Any Remodeling Work at Home

Get The Lead Out® likes to remind all homeowners with homes built prior to 1978 to use extreme caution before beginning any spring remodeling or renovation projects!  Lead paint was used in the construction of homes built prior to 1978, and there are many homes around our Charlotte area that were constructed prior to 1978 and could have lead paint.

To protect against the risk of exposing dangerous lead paint during home renovations, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. It requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices.

Contractors must use lead-safe work practices and follow these three simple procedures:

• Contain the work area.
• Minimize dust.
• Clean up thoroughly.

If you are a homeowner performing renovation, repair, or painting work in your own home, EPA's RRP rule does not cover your project. However, you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family or children in your care. If you are living in a pre-1978 home and planning to do painting or repairs, please read a copy of EPA's Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) lead hazard information pamphlet.

If your home was built before 1978, there could be a good chance that lead fibers or lead paint were used in the initial construction of your home.  Please call Get The Lead Out® at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.com.  Do not deal with the removal of lead paint or lead substances on your own!  Disturbing the lead from paint or pipe wrapping could cause lead-contaminated dust to be freed and inhaled by you or your children.

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