New Survey Shows EPA Must Consider Costs of Lead Paint Regulation

Despite overwhelming awareness of lead dust's health risks, most consumers would refuse to pay for tests that identify a safe level of lead dust after remodeling according to a new national survey. Commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers, the findings raise concerns that future regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring mandatory lead clearance testing in pre-1978 homes may cause more problems than it solves.

"Ideally every homeowner would pay for this test, but clearly the vast majority does not believe the cost justifies the results despite living in at-risk homes," said NAHB Remodelers Chair Mike Nagel, CGR, CAPS, a remodeler from Chicago. "The EPA must encourage homeowners to work with trained professionals, and adding what may be substantial costs to remodeling projects could cause homeowners to do it themselves, hire unlicensed contractors, or worse do nothing."

The research firm TNS surveyed 1,001 residents of owner-occupied homes built before 1978 - the last year lead paint was used in construction. Overall, 94% of homeowners were aware that lead dust from older homes can cause health problems. When asked about hiring a third-party company to test for lead dust after a remodeling project, 81% of those planning to hire a professional within the next two years would not pay an estimated $200 per room to ensure a safe lead dust level. Of those with "do-it-yourself" or DIY projects, 80% would not pay for this test either. The $200 cost assumed urban or suburban residence with easy access to a lead dust testing facility.

Households with pregnant women and/or children under six years old were also reluctant to take on the additional cost. Of those planning to hire a professional, only 25 percent said they would pay for the third-party test while a third of DIYers said they would pay.

The EPA recently proposed a new rule to regulate renovation activities by contractors in pre-1978 homes (the rule would not apply to DIY homeowners). NAHB continues to emphasize the practical methods that the EPA recommends to avoid creating potential lead dust:

• Mist surfaces with water before sanding or scraping.

• Cover the area under construction with durable protective sheeting (e.g., a plastic or poly tarp). Use barriers to keep dust contained to immediate work area.

• Provide an exhaust fan from the work area to help remove dust and other pollutants.

• Use an appropriate waste disposal method for any paints containing lead.