In San Francisco, the allowed lead levels for interior floors and window sills were lowered to protect children from lead poisoning.
There are higher levels that are acceptable if you live in a HUD-owned property.
Regardless of the allowed levels, children should be protected from all lead dust. Mental retardation from lead is seldom reversible in children.
The rules are very complex and their interpretation depends upon the government-led lead inspector. We use the lower standard to avoid conflicts for our clients and to protect the children.
These levels are much higher than California’s allowed levels. Given the damage to children that lead can cause, let’s work together to remove all lead.
These Key Points are from the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.
In 2012, CDC established a reference range upper value of 5 µg/dL for children’s BLLs based on the NHANES estimate of 97.5% of the distribution.
Most states have reporting systems for BLLs.
OSHA has set required standards for an action level at 30 µg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workday.
EPA has set a standard for lead in the ambient air of 0.15 µg/m3 averaged over a calendar quarter.
EPA has established 400 ppm for lead in bare soils in play areas and 1,200 ppm for non-play areas for federally funded projects.
EPA’s action level for lead in water delivered to users of public drinking water systems is 15 µg/L.
FDA has set various action levels regarding lead in food items, cosmetics and bottled water.
Use of lead-soldered food cans is now banned in the U.S
CPSC has limited the lead content in paint intended for residential use and similar surface coatings in children’s products, toys and jewelry to 0.009%.