EPA imposes stricter standards to protect children from exposure to lead paint
The Biden administration is imposing strict new limits on dust from lead-based paint in older homes and child-care facilities
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two weeks after setting a nationwide deadline for removal of lead pipes, the Biden administration is imposing strict new limits on dust from lead-based paint in older homes and child-care facilities.
A final rule announced Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency sets limits on lead dust on floors and window sills in pre-1978 residences and child-care facilities to levels so low they cannot be detected.
Paint that contains lead was banned in 1978, but more than 30 million American homes are believed to still contain it, including nearly 4 million homes where children under the age of 6 live. Lead paint can chip off when it deteriorates or is disturbed, especially during home remodeling or renovation.
“The science is clear: There is no safe level of lead,” said Michal Freedhoff, EPA's assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. “It is time to finally rid the country of the scourge that lead paint has posed to our children’s health” for generations, she said.
