Lead-Based Paint Residuals: Culprit or Cop-out?

Adverse health effects from ingestion and/or inhalation of lead-contaminated materials have been recognized for many years, and most frequently associated with lead-based paint in U.S. homes built prior to 1978. There is no question about the hazards of flaking paint or dusts accumulated from paint deterioration or improper paint removal methods. However, there is strong evidence that many lead exposures blamed on lead-based paint are, in fact, due primarily to other sources. This study demonstrates that large areas of heavily lead-contaminated soils cannot reasonably be attributed to lead-based house paint, and that it is possible to use chemical fingerprinting to eliminate paint as a major contributor to interior dust lead levels.