Home Owners

1. How to test for Lead
2. Lead Sources
3. Preventing Lead in your home
4. Removing Lead

How to Test For Lead / Arsenic

If you are concerned about the possibility of Lead exposure in your home or property, the EPA recommends a home inspection by a certified professional. The National Lead Information Center (NLIC) 1-800-424-LEAD [5323] has a list of certified inspectors in your area. If you live within a three mile radius of the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) smelter, you may be eligible to have your soil tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To request a soil test contact the EPA El Paso Border office at (915) 533-7273, or Jon Rinehart Site Assessment Manager (214) 665-6789, or 1-800-533-3508 (toll-free).

You can also utilize home-testing kits, like the Zefon company's OSHA approved, lead test kit for $39.95 that can test for lead in soil, paint, house dust, toys, pottery, lead crystal, plumbing, etc. The Zefon Lead Alert Professional Test Kit does not require samples to be sent to an outside lab and provides immediate results. Test kits can be purchased at http://www.zefon.com/store/ catalog/ or you can call 1-800-282-0073 for orders or more information. Testing kits which measure lead deposits in tap water are available from ProLab for $29.95 at http://prolabinc.com/ To test for arsenic in soil an arsenic water test can be modified, as described at http://www.leadcheck.com/AS-01.html

Arsenic tests are available online for $29.95 at http://www.leadcheck.com/ ArsenicCheck.shtml

Exposure Pathways of Lead (lead sources)

If you are a homeowner in El Paso, and are concerned about the possibility of lead contamination, you should consider several factors. If you live within a three mile radius of ASARCO smelter, your property may be similar to the 1,204 properties identified by the EPA as having elevated levels of lead in the soil, as a result of industrial contamination from the smelter. It is also possible that heavy metals from ASARCO emissions (prior to their closure in 1998) have entered your home through household dust, air conditioners, attic dust, or soil tracked into your home.

Other sources of lead must also be considered including; lead paint, past use of leaded gas in cars (banned in 1996), certain pesticides, drinking water (contaminated by plumbing with lead or lead solder). Hobbies which may lead to lead exposure include stained glass, pottery/ceramics, and car maintenance when there is contact with radiators. Exposure can also occur through employment in the mining, refining, and smelting industries, and in the manufacturing of batteries, pottery, ammunition, rubber, plastics, metal products (solder and pipes), brass/bronze foundries, and devices to shield X-rays. Individuals employed in the above listed areas may bring home lead-contaminated dust on their skin, clothes or shoes.

Please note that this section addresses only some of the potential exposure routes for lead. If you are concerned about your CHILDREN'S HEALTH you should consider children's costume jewelry, painted toys and furniture, food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain. Lastly, especially in the border area, both Mexican candy and remedies for colic or stomach upset in children, called "greta" and "azarcon" have been found to contain lead.

For more information on exposure pathways, see http://www.epa.gov/ lead/leadinfo.htm#where

Preventing Lead Exposure in Your Home

Once you have identified the source of the lead contamination in your home there are some basic precautions to prevent lead exposure. It should be noted that this list addresses only some of the pre-existing sources of lead contamination in your home. Ongoing threats for lead exposure include industrial emissions which contaminate the air, and infiltrate the soil around the home and dust found in the home.

If you have identified the source of Lead contamination to be the result of past Industrial Emissions the Soil, House Dust, Attic Dust , must be reduced

• Do not allow children to have contact with bare soil outside the home or attic dust in the home
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil
• Wet-wipe household surfaces. Avoid dry dusting as this re-suspends lead particles into the air.
• Dust frequently with a damp mop (rather than a vacuum which can release lead particles into the air) and use a commercial detergent such as trisodium-phosphate (TSP) to clean surfaces.
• Vigorously wash hands for a minimum of one minute, or wash hands with an industrial cleaner, followed by soap and water*

If you have identified the source of Lead contamination to be the Lead Based Paint in homes built before 1978,

• Prevent children from chewing or mouthing painted surfaces
• Do not dry scrape, dry sand, or heat lead-based paint. If paint removal is required, hire a certified lead "abatement" contractor.
• Ensure that paint is in good condition. Particular attention should be paid to areas 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

If you have identified the source of Lead contamination to be your Water

• Use only cold water for drinking and cooking, and run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours. Boiling your water will not get rid of lead.

If you have identified the source of Lead contamination to be related to your Occupation or Hobby

• Shower and change clothes prior to coming into contact with family members
• Launder all work/hobby clothes separately
• Wash hands with an industrial cleaner*

*Note: To effectively remove lead from hands use a product such as Fiberlock LeadSafe wipes, which are TSP saturated towelettes and then wash with soap and water. http://www.fiberlock.com/800600/gr/ic.htm

Lead Removal

If you live in West, West Central or Central areas of El Paso on a property which has been identified by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as having heightened levels of lead and/or arsenic in the soil as a result of ASARCO emissions, you may be eligible to have your property “remediated.” The remediation process involves the removal of the contaminated soil, and its replacement with “clean” soil. As of 2004, the EPA expended all of its “emergency funds” which were used to remediate 504 properties. An additional 700 properties have been identified as needing remediation, and many more remain to be tested. Additional EPA funds for remediation will be contingent on the designation of El Paso as a Superfund site and placement on the National Priority List (NPL). Mayor Wardy has also been in discussion with the EPA and ASARCO to identify other potential funds for remediation, but no progress on these talks has been reported at this time. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/el_paso_index.htm

For more information call (915) 533-7273, 1-800-533-3508 or 1-800-887-6063 (toll-free) or Susan Webster (214) 665-6784, or Jon Rinehart Site Assessment Manager (214) 665-6789.

For removing a lead based paint hazard from your pre-1978 home, you must hire a certified lead "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not enough. You should always hire a person with special training for correcting lead problems--someone who knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules set by their state or the federal government. You may also contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) for help with locating certified contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm# , http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts2.html

ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.