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Stricter Lead Standards for California’s Pre-1978 Homes and Childcare Facilities

Lead Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	12/3/2024
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Stricter Lead Standards for California’s Pre-1978 Homes and Childcare Facilities
Introduction	LA Testing provides laboratory services, sampling supplies, test kits, and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate lead exposure hazards to protect the public, and to help keep businesses in regulatory compliance.
Huntington Beach, California, December 2, 2024 Back in early 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) put into effect a new standard for “Lead-Contaminated Dust” in the state. CDPH lowered the standard for interior floor surfaces from 40 micrograms (µg) of lead in dust per square foot (ft²) to 10 µg/ft², and for interior horizontal surfaces from 250 µg/ft² to 100 µg/ft². The standard for exterior floor and exterior horizontal surfaces remained at 400 µg/ft². This October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities from across the nation. EPA’s final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that the agency considers hazardous to any reportable level measured by an EPA-recognized laboratory. The rule also lowers the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills, and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs to the levels listed below. The rule strengthens these standards from: 10 micrograms µg/ft² to 5 µg/ft² for floors 100 µg/ft² to 40 µg/ft² for window sills 400 µg/ft² to 100 µg/ft² for window troughs According to the EPA: Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of six living there. Lead-contaminated dust is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children, and even low levels of exposure can be harmful. “Fortunately, lead poisoning is entirely preventable if we recognize exposure risks and take the appropriate actions,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “At LA Testing, we offer environmental, material, and industrial hygiene testing for lead and other hazardous materials from air, water, paint, dust, soil, consumer product, and other samples. Our California laboratories also provide sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure hazards. These resources protect families, workers, and building occupants, while also helping to keep companies in compliance with health and safety regulations.” To learn more about lead or other environmental, health, and safety testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794. For access to indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.