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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities. The final standards are the latest action from the agency to help protect families and children from lead exposure.

According to the EPA:
Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure, which can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more. In adults, exposure can cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may cause cancer. EPA estimates that this rule will reduce the lead exposures of up to nearly 1.2 million people every year, of which 178,000 to 326,000 are children under the age of six.

The final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that EPA 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 is strengthening these standards from:

In Puerto Rico and across the rest of the nation, EPA estimates there are 31 million pre-1978 houses that still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of six living there, said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. To help protect against lead hazards, the experts at Zimmetry have been helping residents, institutions, and businesses in Puerto Rico identify and mitigate lead exposure risks from soil, paint, water, dust, and other sources for over two decades. Our environmental and industrial hygiene professionals work to protect families, workers, and building occupants from lead, asbestos, and other regulated substances. These services can also be essential for keeping businesses and institutions in compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations.

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, environmental, compliance, and consulting resources, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005, or email [email protected] .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.