330-590-7902
WHO WE ARE
Ohio Lead Inspectors LLC conducts inspections, risk assessments, and final clearance evaluations aimed at detecting hazards associated with lead-based paint and lead dust. These hazards can lead to health issues and impact renovation projects. Our activities align with regulations set forth by HUD, EPA, and the Ohio Department of Health, overseen by licensed professionals.
After performing these essential services, we offer recommendations for effectively managing lead-related concerns going forward. Our comprehensive offerings encompass various aspects, such as testing paint on accessible surfaces, conducting occupant interviews, identifying lead hazards stemming from deteriorated paint, assessing surfaces prone to friction, impact, and potential ingestion, and conducting dust wipe and soil sampling.
The lead testing laboratories employed by Ohio Lead Inspectors LLC hold certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) for conducting analyses on bulk samples, dust, and soil. For most paint testing needs, we utilize portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instruments, which provide non-destructive lead content assessments.
All hazard mitigation solutions recommended by our risk assessors are both technically viable and tailored to the specific surface(s) or hazard identified. These control options take into consideration factors like potential surface disturbance during renovation work, property condition, and the severity and location of hazards.
OUR SERVICES
Lead-Based Paint Inspection
Lead paint inspection involves the precise identification and measurement of lead levels in all painted surfaces. Lead paint poses a severe health risk when inhaled or ingested, making this test crucial, especially before any renovation work that might disturb and generate lead dust. During the lead paint inspection process, we test each painted surface utilizing an XRF instrument (radioactive gun) to promptly generate results. Our method involves a systematic examination of all painted surfaces within the residence to determine the presence of lead-based paint. We then furnish the client with a comprehensive report that outlines the exact locations where lead-based paint was identified.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a lead inspection and a risk assessment?
Lead Paint inspections determine if lead is present and where on the property. A lead paint risk assessment presumes lead paint is present and assesses hazards associated with lead paint
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Can you just paint over lead paint?
Painting over lead paint can be considered a form of “encapsulation,” which is one of the EPA-approved ways to remediate lead paint hazards. However, this requires the use of a special material called an “encapsulant.” Regular store-bought paint by itself is not sufficient to safely encapsulate lead paint.
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Who is at risk for lead poisoning?
Children
Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects that can have lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths. Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from playing with toys with lead-based paint.
Adults, Including Pregnant Women
Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead. They may also breath lead dust by spending time in areas where lead-based paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, can increase exposure as can certain folk remedies containing lead. A pregnant woman’s exposure to lead from these sources is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.
What is the most significant source of childhood lead exposure in a residence?
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The scientific literature suggests that nationally lead-contaminated paint dust is the most significant source of childhood lead exposure. Lead dust comes from deteriorating lead-based paint and lead- contaminated soil that gets tracked into your home. This dust may accumulate to unsafe levels. Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can also create hazardous lead dust. People, especially children, can swallow lead dust as they eat, play, and do other normal hand-to-mouth activities.
Is it OK to live in a house with lead paint?
Lead is a poison that is dangerous to you and your family. It can harm a child's brain and cause learning and behavior problems. It can even harm unborn babies. Any house or apartment built before 1978 could have lead paint.
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Where is lead paint most commonly found?
Inside the home, most lead dust comes from chipping and flaking paint or when paint is scraped, sanded, or disturbed during home remodeling. Chipping and peeling paint is found mostly on surfaces that rub or bump up against another surface. These surfaces include doors and windows.
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I thought lead-based paint had been phased out. How many homes still contain lead-based paint?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing estimated that 38 million permanently occupied housing units (40% of all housing units) in the United States contain some lead-based paint that was applied before the residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978. “Housing units” include single-family homes, manufactured housing, and multi-unit dwellings like apartments. Vacant housing, group quarters (e.g., prisons, hospitals, and dormitories), hotels, motels, and other short-term housing, military bases, and housing where children are not permitted to live (e.g., housing designated exclusively for the elderly and those with zero-bedroom units) are not included in this number. More information on these statistics is available from HUD.
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Where is lead found?
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Lead can be found in all parts of our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Much of our exposure comes from human activities including the use of fossil fuels including past use of leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities and past use of lead-based paint in homes. Lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition and cosmetics.
Lead may enter the environment from these past and current uses. Lead can also be emitted into the environment from industrial sources and contaminated sites, such as former lead smelters. While natural levels of lead in soil range between 50 and 400 parts per million, mining, smelting and refining activities have resulted in substantial increases in lead levels in the environment, especially near mining and smelting sites.
When lead is released to the air from industrial sources or spark-ignition engine aircraft, it may travel long distances before settling to the ground, where it usually sticks to soil particles. Lead may move from soil into ground water depending on the type of lead compound and the characteristics of the soil.
Federal and state regulatory standards have helped to reduce the amount of lead in air, drinking water, soil, consumer products, food, and occupational settings.
What are symptoms of lead poisoning in adults?
Lead exposure can cause high blood pressure and brain, kidney and reproductive health issues in adults. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle/joint pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and loss of sex drive. Most adults with lead poisoning don't look or feel sick.
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How should i prepare my property for a LBP Inspection/Lead Risk Assessment??
Text goes here that will explain everything that they will need to know. Text goes here that will explain everything that they will need to know.
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What are the health effects of lead?
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Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of lead.
Children
Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:
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Behavior and learning problems
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Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
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Slowed growth
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Hearing Problems
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Anemia
In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.
Pregnant Women
Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother's bones along with calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead. This can result in serious effects to the developing fetus and infant, including:
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Cause the baby to be born too early or too small;
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Hurt the baby’s brain, kidney’s, and nervous system;
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Increase the likelihood of learning or behavioral problems; and
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Put the mother at risk for miscarriage.
Other Adults
Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:
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Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension;
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Decreased kidney function; and
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Reproductive problems (in both men and women).