Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

As of 1996, federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting, buying, or renovating pre-1978 housing:

LANDLORDS will have to disclose known information of lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases will include a federal form about lead-based paint.

SELLERS will have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts will include a federal form about lead-based paint in the building. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards.

RENOVATORS will have to give you this pamphlet before starting work.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on these requirements, call the National lead Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD

Testing For Lead Poisoning/Accumulation

A simple blood test can detect the most recent exposure to lead; however, a hair analysis will accurately indicate long-term accumulation of lead.

For More Information on Lead :

The National Lead Information Center

Call 1-800-4424-LEAD FAX: 202-659-1192

Speak with trained lead information specialists for assistance with your lead problems and to obtain materials and publications. For the hearing impaired, call: TDD 1-800-526-5456

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Call: 1-800-426-4791 for information about lead in drinking water

Consumer Product Safety Commission Hotline
Call 1-800-638-2772 or E-mail info@cpsc.gov to request information on lead in products, or to report an unsafe product or product-related injury.

Online Information:

http://www.epa.gov/reg5foia/pb/ OR http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/

Access the U.S. EPA's Lead Page on the Internet for information

on many Federal agencies' lead

poisoning prevention programs.

http://www.leadlisting.org/
Access the Lead listing home page to find and experienced lead service provider in your area (funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)

http://www.hud/gov/lea/leahome.htm
Access the HUD Lead Office for information regarding the Section 1018 real estate notification and disclosure requirements.

References:

Protect Your family From Lead in Your Home, EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency),

U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington D.C. May 1995.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Food Supplements, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C, Avery Publishing Group, 1990.

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