Bill's Building Blog

Testing for lead on drywall and plaster will soon get easier and cheaper

At this time, EPA does not recognize LeadCheck swabs for testing plaster and drywall for lead in RRP-eligible projects (though the swabs are the only currently recognized swabs for testing for lead paint in houses built prior to 1978).

While inexpensive LeadCheck swabs are recognized for testing for lead paint on wood, such as window frames and sills, determining the presence or absence of lead in plaster and drywall applications now requires a third-party test, which can get expensive.

Without the third-party test to verify there is NO lead in the plaster or drywall of older homes undergoing renovation, a professional company must comply with RRP lead-safe work practices.

See more about the EPA's RRP Rule

However, LeadCheck announced that EPA recognition for testing drywall and plaster with its swabs will occur within a few weeks.

See here how to test for lead on stucco and drywall, or watch the video below.

Uptick in lead poisoning cases related to economy?

State health officials say an increase in childhood lead poisoning cases in Iowa could be tied to the economic downturn.

Kevin Officer, with the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Lead Poisoning Prevention, says many people living in older homes are choosing to do their own repairs and they’re not always following lead-safe practices.

“Homeowners or landlords are doing scraping or sanding of the existing lead pain on the homes,” Officer said.

Removing lead-based paint can be dangerous if it’s not done correctly. “One of the primary things they can do when they’re removing the paint is keeping it moist or wet with a mister, basically a bottle mister to mist the area before scraping or painting it. That will keep the dust down and keep paint chips from getting all over the place,” Officer said.

See the whole story at www.radioiowa.com