Angie's List
Campaign for Lead
Safety Awareness

Angie's List magazine cover story for October 2007

The Angie's List magazine cover story for October 2007 focused on lead poisoning. Click here to learn more about lead safety and the results of last year's investigation.

Lead poisoning has received a lot of attention in the news, however the coverage has been mostly related to children's toys and products.

In fact, the majority of lead poisoning cases - which have occurred in over 300,000 children in the United States - don't stem from toys. They come from exposure to lead in paint; potentially in as many as 38 million homes. homes. At Angie's List, we want to help get the word out about the dangers of lead paint and what you can do to keep your family safe.

Despite Tighter Federal Laws on the Horizon, U.S. Contractors Continue to Downplay Dangers of Lead Paint

Angie's List to continue campaign to educate consumers/contractors on dangers of lead in the home

July 2008 -- It is a silent killer; a debilitating toxin hidden deep in the walls of rundown, dilapidated housing, as well as some of the finest historic homes.

Lead poisoning from old, chipped paint - or dust from paint containing lead - attacks the brain and nervous system of those who ingest it, particularly children under the age of 7, who are more likely to put the sweet-tasting paint chips in their mouth or drag toys or blankets through lead dust on the floor. More than 300,000 children in the United States have dangerous blood lead levels and more than 38 million U.S. homes are estimated to still contain lead paint, which was banned in 1978. Lead poisoning often leads to long-term developmental and behavioral problems.

Contractors who routinely work around lead paint should be educated in its dangers and on how to safely remove it. The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring renovators and remodelers to be certified on lead-safe work practices by 2010.

Unfortunately, too many contractors right now are putting families at risk daily with dangerous work practices around lead paint.

For the second straight year, Angie's List conducted an investigation into the lead-removal practices of more than 200 randomly selected contractors across 30 U.S. cities, while simultaneously conducting a poll of its members. Posing as a homeowner painting a toddler's room in a 1920's home, Angie's List staff asked contractors how to go about the project.

For the second straight year, the results were alarming: 30 percent of the contractors contacted gave dangerous advice on working around lead paint compared to 34 percent in 2007.

Just like last year, about three-quarters of our members who recently had work done that disturbed paint in their pre-1978 homes reported that they'd not been warned of the potential for lead paint danger. And again, more than 85 percent said their contractors failed to give them the EPA's required lead safety pamphlet.

"One more case of lead poisoning is too many, and it's an issue for both wealthy families renovating older homes and tenants in run-down buildings," said Angie Hicks, Founder of Angie's List - the nation's leading consumer ratings service. Angie's List helps homeowners find reliable help in more than 330 categories of service, including painting, remodeling and lead testing and removal.

"One contractor told us he switched careers to focus on lead testing to help prevent other families from suffering after his son was lead poisoned during a renovation project," Hicks said.

That contractor, Ed Topp, said the period after his son's diagnosis was a "miserable" time for his family.

"I would never have seen myself in this type of business at that time," Topp said. "I wanted to find out as much as I could. Once I realized what the preventative issues were, I figured I might be able to go out there and help others avoid the misery we had."

Last year's investigation results prompted Angie's List to conduct a nationwide lead safety awareness tour last fall, educating contractors and consumers on the proper methods for avoiding contact with lead paint and how to safely remove or encapsulate it - earning the company the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Task Force's Award for Outstanding Impact on Children's Health.

A recent nationwide poll of Angie's List members revealed 14 percent have had their child or children tested for lead toxicity compared to 9 percent in 2007. Eighteen percent of Angie's List members said the information the company provided during last year's awareness campaign increased their understanding of the dangers of lead.

"Clearly, there's still work to be done," Hicks added. "The clock is ticking for contractors to learn the proper safe practices. The new EPA rule prohibits commonly mistaken practices, such as open-torch burning and using high-heat guns. High speed equipment, such as grinders and sanders, are also prohibited, unless they are equipped with a HEPA filter."

The EPA is also evaluating stricter air-quality standards for lead and is accepting written public comment on that topic until July 22.

There are first-step over-the-counter lead tests available for consumers to purchase, but certified lead inspectors offer the most accurate test by using an x-ray fluorescence spectrum analyzer system (XRF) to non-invasively and accurately measure lead levels in the home.

Angie's List recently began rating lead testing and removal and has added special icons to the profiles of service companies on the List that have received lead safety training.

*1,196 Angie's List members took our poll this year. Responses are representative of Angie's List members, but not the general public.

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Angie's List Lead Safety Tips

    Tips:
  • Call your local paint store to find out if the contractor you're considering hiring has a good history with the store.
  • Find a contractor who has been in business for several years and is willing to offer references. The longer they've been in business, the more they will most likely know about lead.
  • Find a contractor whom you feel comfortable and who can thoroughly answer your questions and explain their work on how they will protect your family.
  • Educate yourself! There are brochures and other info on EPA website or call your local Health Dept.
  • Lead can be anywhere (walls inside and out, trim, window frame, doors, ceiling) in a home built before 1978. Test any surface that has loose paint. It can also be in the soil, so take your shoes off at the door.
  • If paint is slightly peeling or flaking it can be sealed in and encapsulated. If there are several large areas coming off wall then paint MUST be removed by a certified lead abatement company.
  • Workers need to clean off their shoes to keep from tracking out any dust.
  • Contractors must use a HEPA vac or wet sander to avoid dust being released into the air.
  • Have the work area professionally cleaned after the work is complete, as well as have your air ducts cleaned to prevent any leftover dust from circulating through the house.
    Background:
    Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States.
  • People can get lead in their body if they:
    • Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths.
    • Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
    • Breathe in lead dust, especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
  • Lead is more dangerous to children because:
    • Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
    • Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
    • Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
  • If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from:
    • Damage to the brain and nervous system
    • Behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity
    • Slowed growth
    • Hearing problems
    • Headaches
  • Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:
    • Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
    • High blood pressure and hypertension
    • Nerve disorders
    • Memory and concentration problems
    • Muscle and joint pain
    Where lead is likely to be a hazard:
    Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, can be serious hazards.
  • Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
  • Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include:
    • Windows and window sills.
    • Doors and door frames.
    • Stairs, railings, and banisters.
    • Porches and fences.
  • Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep or walk through it.
  • Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) to find out about testing soil for lead.

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Angie's List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local service providers in more than 330 different categories. Currently, more than 650,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie's List to help them find the right professional for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie's List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts. Get more information about Angie's List at http://www.angieslist.com. Read Angie's blog at http://www.angiehicksblog.com.

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