Consumer Info

Renovation, Painting, and Repair Rule (RRP)

On April 22, 2010 the EPA put into effect that ANY contractor ( i.e. painter, drywall, restoration, electrical, siding, roofing, etc) working on homes, apartments, condo's, child care facilities, HUD facilites, Federally funded residences (i.e. Section 8, weatherization, etc) or schools that are Pre-1978 MUST have taken and successfully completed an 8 hour EPA approved RRP course.

This course must contain a 6 hour classroom instruction and a mantatory 2 hour "hands-on" activity. After the contractor passes the EPA recognized exam, attains their EPA recognized certifiate, they are now certified as an individual. Then the company must pay a fee to the EPA or State to become "Firm Certified" and be listed on the EPA website.

If the contactor is not "Certified" they can be fined $37,500 per violation and have up to a 5 year felony conviciton. If it is proven that an owner knew of the law and hired a non-certified contractor they could be held accountable as well.

For more information on this rule please go the the EPA website by clicking HERE.

US EPA's A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home (PDF)
US EPA's Mold Remediation (PDF)

Lead Information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider lead poisoning to be the #1 environmental health threat to American children. It is easy for poisonous lead dust to contaminate your home. Lead dust is especially dangerous to children and women who are (or wish to become) pregnant. Most houses built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. Lead-based paint is not dangerous if it is properly cared for. But, when lead-based paint deteriorates, chalks or is disturbed during remodeling, repainting or routine maintenance, it creates an invisible, tasteless, and odorless toxic lead dust.

Most cases of lead poisoning are caused by exposure to this dust. Even such seemingly harmless acts as opening or closing a window, or the rubbing of a door jamb, are enough to create and release significant levels of poisonous lead dust.

Lead dust settles on floors and other surfaces where children play. It gets on their hands and toys, and ends up in their mouths. Slowly and without noticeable symptoms, they are poisoned.

Many homeowners unknowingly contaminate their homes when they remodel or repaint rooms that contain lead-based paint. Even though homeowners may be careful to remove paint chips, they don't realize that as they sand and scrape, lead dust is being created. That lead dust is easily spread throughout the home on their shoes, clothing and on air currents.

Pets are also highly susceptible to lead poisoning from lead contaminated dust. They pick it up on their fur and paws, then ingest it while grooming themselves. Because of their relatively small body size, it doesn't take much lead to poison a dog or cat.

There are many other sources of lead exposure, including:

Urban soil and dust (deposits from paint, gasoline and industrial sources). Soil can become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint flakes, chalks or peels and gets into the soil. Homes near certain industries such as smelters or lead-acid (automotive) battery manufacturers may have lead in the soil due to close proximity to those operations. Use of leaded gasoline in America has left behind deposits of lead in much of the nation's soil. Children often play in this soil, which is easily tracked into the home.

Drinking water (leached from lead pipes, solder, service lines and brass fixtures). Lead contaminates drinking water primarily through corrosion of plumbing materials. As surprising as it sounds, some brand new faucets, new solder and new brass fittings can leach more lead than old ones. Although lead solder was outlawed for use in drinking water systems in 1986, it is still widely available for other uses and can be found in any hardware store. Studies of newer homes indicate that lead solder is being used, even though it has been outlawed.

Over time, minerals build up inside the piping system and act as an insulator between the water and lead containing components. Therefore, lead levels in water from older homes may be lower than lead levels in water from newer homes. Additionally, some treatments, such as "shocking" (super chlorination) will clean out the piping system. This cleaning removes the mineral deposits, causing the water to be exposed to leaded components once again.

Vinyl miniblinds (lead is used as a plastic strengthener). For many years, an estimated 25 million vinyl miniblinds containing lead were imported into the United States each year. The plastic in the blinds deteriorates from exposure to sunlight and heat to form lead dust.

Therefore, even homes without lead-based paint can be sources of lead exposure. Lead is dangerous because it is so easily overlooked, and many people are unaware that these hazards exist.

Lead poisoning can keep your children from realizing their full potential:

Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Once in the body, lead interferes with the body's production of chemicals called neurotransmitters, that are necessary for proper brain functioning.

A child who has lead poisoning may not look or act sick. Early detection of lead hazards in your home is crucial to preventing lead exposure and poisoning. The ONLY way to detect lead is to test.

Women exposed to lead who become pregnant can pass lead directly to the developing baby:
This exposure does not have to be recent. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age face the risk of passing lead to their unborn child, because lead is stored in the bones and tooth dentin for extended periods of time. Changes that occur in a woman's body during pregnancy result in the stored lead being released back into the blood stream. That lead can then pass across the placenta to the developing baby.

Under no circumstances should an expectant mother be involved in the repainting or renovation of a nursery (or any other room) if it is at all possible that lead paint is present. Scraping and sanding may cause elevated levels of lead dust, which put the mother and her unborn child at risk of lead exposure. A lead dust test should always be conducted at the completion of renovation.
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Allergen Facts

What Are Some Common Indoor Biological Pollutants?

• Animal dander (minute scales from hair, feathers and skin)

• Dust mite and cockroach parts

• Fungi (molds)

• Infectious agents (bacteria or viruses)

• Pollen

Some of these substances are in every home. It is impossible to get rid of them all. Even a spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two conditions are essential to support growth: nutrients and moisture. These conditions can be found in many locations, such as bathrooms, damp or flooded basements, wet appliances (such as humidifiers or air conditioners), and even some carpets and furniture.

Modern materials and construction techniques may reduce the amount of outside air brought into buildings which may result in high moisture levels inside. Using humidifiers, unvented heaters, and air conditioners in our homes has increased the chances of moisture forming on interior surfaces. This encourages the growth of certain biological pollutants.

The Scope of the Problem

Most information about sources and health effects of biological pollutants is based on studies of large office buildings and two surveys of homes in northern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that 30% to 50% of all structures have damp conditions which may encourage the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. The percentage is likely to be higher in warm, moist climates.

Some diseases and illnesses have been linked with biological pollutants in the indoor environment, however, many of them have unrelated causes. Therefore, we do not know how many health problems are a direct result of poor indoor air.

Health Effects of Biological Pollutants.

All of us are exposed to biological pollutants, however, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Some people do not experience one or more of the following reactions:

• Allergic

• Infectious

• Toxic

Except for the spread of infections indoors, allergic reactions may be the most common health problem with the indoor air quality in homes. They are often connected with animal dander (mostly from cats and dogs), with house dust mites (microscopic animals living in household dust), and with pollen. Allergic reactions can range from a simple flu-like symptom to mildly threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Some common signs and symptoms are:

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose and sneezing

• Nasal congestion

• Itching

• Coughing

• Wheezing and difficulty breathing

• Headache

• Fatigue

Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma. These people have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult.