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New Lead Paint Standards Proposed by EPA to Protect Against Childhood Lead Exposure

Lead Testing

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	8/22/2023
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	New Lead Paint Standards Proposed by EPA to Protect Against Childhood Lead Exposure
Introduction	EMSL Analytical provides material, environmental and industrial hygiene testing services to identify lead exposure risks to protect the public and to help keep companies and institutions in regulatory compliance.
Cinnaminson, New Jersey, August 22, 2023 Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen requirements for the removal of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities to better protect children and communities from the harmful effects of exposure to dust generated from lead paint. The proposed rule would strengthen EPA’s regulations under section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by revising the dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS), which identify hazardous lead in dust on floors and window sills, and the dust-lead clearance levels (DLCL), the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after lead removal activities. The proposal would reduce the DLHS from 10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft²) for floors and 100 µg/ft² for window sills to any reportable level greater than zero in recognition of the fact that there is no level of lead in dust that has been found to be safe for children. It would lower the DLCL from 10 µg/ft² to 3 µg/ft² for floors, from 100 µg/ft² to 20 µg/ft² for window sills, and from 400 µg/ft² to 25 µg/ft² for window troughs, which are the lowest post-abatement dust-lead levels that EPA believes can be reliably and effectively achieved. “If finalized, EPA estimates the new rule would annually reduce the lead exposures of approximately 250,000 to 500,000 children under the age of six,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL Analytical, our laboratories have been offering lead testing services for decades. In addition to material, environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, EMSL provides sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure risks to a wide range of hazardous substances. These resources not only protect children, families and workers, they can also be essential for helping businesses comply with health and safety regulations.” To learn more about lead or other environmental, indoor air quality, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. For access to lead and other test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. About EMSL Analytical, Inc. EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.