Introduction
Lead-based paint, a toxic material, was widely used in North America
on both the exteriors and interiors of buildings until well into the second
half of the twentieth century. If a "historic" place is broadly
defined in terms of time as having attained an age of fifty years, this
means that almost every historic house contains some lead-based paint.
In its deteriorated form, it produces paint chips and lead-laden dust particles
that are a known health hazard to both children and adults.
 Residential housing is shown prior to rehabilitation and lead abatement. Photo: NPS files. |
Children are
particularly at risk when they ingest lead paint dust through direct hand-to-mouth
contact and from toys or pacifiers. They are also at risk when they chew
lead-painted surfaces in accessible locations. In addition to its presence
in houses, leaded paint chips, lead dust, or lead-contaminated soil in
play areas can elevate a child's blood lead level to a degree that measures
to reduce and control the hazard should be undertaken (see Action Level
Chart.
The premise of this Preservation Brief is that historic housing can
be made lead-safe for children without removing significant decorative
features and finishes, or architectural trimwork that may contribute to
the building's historic character. Historic housing--encompassing
private dwellings and all types of rental units--is necessarily the focus
of this Brief because federal and state laws primarily address the hazards
of lead and lead-based paint in housing and day-care centers to protect
the health of children under six years of age. Rarely are there mandated
requirements for the removal of lead-based paint from non-residential buildings.
Ideally, most owners and managers should understand the health hazards
created by lead-based paint and voluntarily control these hazards to protect
young children. A stricter approach has been taken by some state and federal
funding programs which have compliance requirements for identifying the
problem, notifying tenants, and, in some cases, remedying lead hazards
in housing (see Lead-based Paint Legislation). With new rules being written,
and new products and approaches being developed, it is often difficult
to find systematic and balanced methodologies for dealing with lead-based
paint in historic properties.
This Preservation Brief is intended to serve as an introduction to the
complex issue of historic lead-based paint and its management. It explains
how to plan and implement lead-hazard control measures to strike a balance
between preserving a historic building's significant materials and features
and protecting human health and safety, as well as the environment. It
is not meant to be a "how-to guide" for undertaking the work.
Such a short-cut approach could easily result in creating a greater health
risk, if proper precautions were not taken. Home renovators and construction
workers should be aware that serious health problems can be caused by coming
into contact with lead. For this reason, there are also laws to protect
workers on the job site (see Worker Safety). Controlling the amount
of waste containing lead-based paint residue will also reduce the impact
on the environment. All of these considerations must be weighed against
the goal of providing housing that is safe for children.
"Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead Paint Hazards" an Historic Preservation Brief
