How to Identify Lead Paint in Your Home or Business

Are you remodeling your home or buying a property built before 1978? You need to test the property’s paint for lead. This is especially important in our Toledo (and surrounding) neighborhoods. Some jurisdictions require property buyers to sign a lead-based disclosure form (a document stating that the property may contain lead-based paint) before acquiring an old home.

The Department of Energy and EPA both have regulations regarding lead paint. This is because lead-based paint has been found to be a health hazard if disturbed during construction or if the furniture and other items disturbs it. If small children come into contact with the exposed paint, it could cause serious developmental issues, including damage to the brain and CNS (Central Nervous System). It is worth knowing that lead-based paint is harmless until disturbed or exposed.

So, how do you identify lead paint in your home? You can do so via three techniques:

1. Chemical Spot Tests

• 3M™ LeadCheck™ Method
• D-Lead® Test

2. Paint Chip Analysis

3. XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Technique (Site Quantitative Test)

4. Work with a professional Toledo lead pain team.

What Is a Chemical Spot Test in Lead Abatement?

Chemical test kits detect traces of lead via chemical reactions that cause a color change in the solution if the concentration of lead in the paint is at least 0.5 percent (by weight). The best thing about chemical test kits is that they are cheap and easily available in local hardware stores. The two most popularly used chemical spot tests are the 3M™ LeadCheck™ Method and D-Lead® Test.

This can be a quick first step to lead detection but often they don’t always produce reliable results so it’s best to connect with us.  However, if you want to give it a try here are some best practice.

Lead-Based Paint Detection Using 3M™ LeadCheck™ Method

The most often used Chemical Spot Test is the 3M™ LeadCheck™ Test. It is simple – you make an incision on the surface, swab the paint, and if it turns red, you are dealing with a lead-based paint! Here is how to go about it:

NOTE: Be sure to select the right spot before you take your test. How? Well, any spot is the right spot if provided the surface is uniformly painted. However, if the surface has thin and thick layers of paint, you should go for a spot with the thickest layers to capture all underlying layers before you make an incision. 

Secondly, only use clean tools to pierce and scoop the paint because contaminants may interfere with the rest of the reaction. Also, wash and dry the surface before collecting the sample paint.

Items:

• Scalpel or cutter
• Transparent Polythene bag
• 3M™ LeadCheck™ Kit

Step 1: Make the incision

Take your scalpel and cut the paint off the substrate (the substrate can be wood or metal). The best approach would be to hold your knife at an angle to expose as much painted area as possible. A cut the size of a 1/4″ is enough. Make sure you cut the paint to the substrate level without removing the substrate itself.

Step 2: Collect the chip

Put your clean polythene paper beneath the incision and collect the paint chip. Just one chip of paint is enough.

Step 3: Crush the LeadCheck™ swab

Each 3M™ LeadCheck™ Swab consists of two easily crushable vials; one contains a lead-reactive dye, and the other is an activator solution. With the tip of the Swab facing down, shake it twice and squeeze until the yellow solution drips out of the Swab’s tip – it is now activated and ready for testing.

An amber-colored liquid should form in the vial once the contents mix. Follow the test-specific instructions on the packaging to avoid mix-ups. These instructions make it easier for an experienced individual to carry out the test and still get accurate results. To test for Lead in your paint, squeeze a tiny portion of the liquid down the tip. Proceed to rub the liquid on the incision for about 30 seconds. If the tip of the LeadCheck™ stick turns red, the paint contains lead. If the tip stays white, lead is absent.

The kit comes with a test confirmation card to test the chemicals’ quality, check whether the test is working properly, and avoid a false positive. Squeeze a tiny portion of the liquid on one circle on the card. If the liquid on the circle turns reddish-orange, the kit is working.

How to Test for Lead in Paint Using D-Lead® Test

Another chemical test recognized by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is D-Lead® Test. It is a little trickier than LeadCheck™ but leaves much less room for errors. Basically, it involves obtaining a sample of your paint, placing the sample inside the provided via, and adding a few drops (five drops is fine) of the chemical reagent. After that, you shake it vigorously and wait for the color to change. Watch how dark the color gets compared to the standard shade printed on the bottle.

Items:

• Scalpel/Cutter
• D-Lead® Test Kit, which includes
• Test Solution 1 (24 Bottles)
• Test Solution 2 (1 Bottle)
• D-Wipe® Cleaning Towels (25 Towels)
• 1 Cleaning Rod
• 1 Sampling Tool
• 1 Razor Blade
• Sample Catch Trays (25 Trays)
• Instruction Manual
• 1 Waste Disposal Bag Complete with A Neutralizing Agent
• Verification Test Strips

Here is how to detect lead with D-Lead® Test in 5 Steps:

Step 1: Clean the tools

As usual with chemical spot tests, start by confirming that your items are clean and dry. Also, clean the surface you plan to obtain the paint. Contaminated tools and kits may produce a false positive and mess up your test.

Step 2: Set up the catchment tray

The catchment tray is a piece of paper with a sticky edge and instructions printed on it. Tear the paper in half to reveal the sticky edge, fold it into a trough, and stick it below the surface you wish to obtain the paint sample as instructed. You can pop out the paint sample by gently hitting the surface with a hammer or scalping it off with a scalpel.

Step 3: Sectioning

Pull off the catchment tray and cut the largest paint sample you obtained into four small pieces. Keep them for sections and discard the rest of the paint. The reason for cutting it into four small pieces is to increase the surface area of exposure to the chemicals in the D-Lead® solution and reduce the time for the reaction. Now collect your four pieces and transfer them to Solution 1. Replace the cap and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Your solution is now ready to add the chemical reagent.

Step 4: Add the chemical reagent and note the color change

Drop five drops of the chemical reagent into Solution 1, shake for another 10 seconds, and note any color changes. Let the solution stand undisturbed for 10 minutes before taking your final readings. After the 10-minute waiting time, shake the solution again for 10 seconds and take note of any color changes. If the solution’s color stays light-colored compared to the test standard printed on the bottle, lead is likely absent in the paint. Conversely, if the color approaches that of the test standard, the paint likely contains lead.

Pros

Chemical spot testing methods are quick, easy, and cheap. Test kits are easily available in local hardware stores. Testing is typically done at the homeowner’s convenience.

Cons

The main setback with chemical spot tests is that they detect the presence of lead without telling you how much of the substance is there. It is not uncommon for these tests to return a false positive (detecting the presence of lead when it is, in fact, absent) or a false negative (indicating lead is absent when it is actually there).

Another disadvantage is that they only test exposed layers even when lead could be in deeper layers.

So where this may give you a good start…they definitely shouldn’t be the only method you try.

What Is Paint Chip Analysis in Lead Detection?

The Paint Chip Analysis technique involves chipping a paint sample from a surface and sending it to an NLLAP laboratory for testing. The tests are often lab-specific, so you must have an existing relationship with an NLLAP Certified Lab before initiating the process. The NLLAP (National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Programs) is an EPA scheme for defining the minimum abilities and requirements that laboratories must meet to get EPA recognition as accredited lead testing laboratories (https://www.epa.gov/lead/national-lead-laboratory-accreditation-program-nllap). EPA created NLLAP to recognize laboratories that can accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples for lead. Here is a more general way to go about it:

Step 1: Measurement

Your first step will be to measure the area you plan to obtain the sample. Most laboratories require a 1″ x 1″ square area. Take your measurements as accurately as possible and record them on the provided form. Use a permanent marker to keep the ink intact during the cleaning process. Proceed to clean the surface.

Step 2: Scour the paint

Take your permanent marker and mark the measurement you made above. Scour the paint off the marked area along the perimeter using a clean knife and drop it in a paper funnel. Avoid scouring off the substrate as it could interfere with the results – if you accidentally scour it, remove it or keep it to a minimum.

Step 3: Send the sample to the lab

Put your paint sample in the provided containers and send it to your preferred NLLAP Certified Lab for testing.

Pros

Paint chip analysis, if done properly, is the most accurate technique, provided you dig deep into the paint layer without scooping a huge amount of the substrate. It is also one of the cheapest methods to test a few paints.

Cons

The main setback with paint chip analysis is that it takes several days or weeks to return the results. You must disturb the surface, then repair it.

How to Detect Lead-based Paint Using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Technique (Site Quantitative Test)

XRF is the most accurate and easiest lead testing technique, although the price tag can be hefty for an average homeowner. It is the best option if you can rent one, but you will need a certification from a lead risk assessor or EPA lead inspector to use one.

So how does the XRF technique work? The device contains a radioactive compound that detects the amount of lead in the paint. All you need to do is hold it up against the surface, pull the trigger active, then read the number displayed on the screen (in mg per square centimeter). The federal standard is 1.0 mg/cm².

Since it is the only site quantitative test perfect for residential applications, given its high degree of accuracy, XRF should come after any or all of the above tests.

Pros

The XRF method reveals two things at the same time, whether lead is present and how much of it is there. It is the fastest method to detect lead in paint. Perhaps the best thing about XRF is that you simply point on the surface to obtain a reading rather than dig into the wall or damage the paint coat. If you are testing several surfaces on the building without damaging your cherished paint, XRF is the best technique for you.

Cons

The main flaw of XRF measurements is their large margin of error especially compared to laboratory analysis. The device may pose safety risks or produce unreliable results if used on inappropriate surfaces, so users are usually discouraged from using it to detect lead in paint coats on intricate or curved surfaces.

Working with a Professional Lead Paint Team

While the methods described above can be helpful for homeowners wanting to get a preliminary idea of whether their home may have lead-based paint, it’s important to remember that testing for lead paint can be a complex process. It requires specialized knowledge and tools to get accurate results. As such, you may want to consider enlisting the help of a professional lead paint team.

Professional lead abatement companies, like Midwest Environmental, are experts in identifying and dealing with lead-based paint. They have the necessary certifications, experience, and equipment to accurately test for and remove lead-based paint. This can be a vital step in ensuring the safety and health of you and your loved ones.

Professional teams will typically follow the same basic procedures listed above—chemical spot tests, paint chip analysis, and XRF technique—but with the added advantage of years of experience and professional equipment. This often results in more accurate and comprehensive results than a homeowner might achieve on their own.

Here is a general overview of the process a professional team might follow:

1. Preliminary Assessment: The team will first conduct a visual inspection of the property and identify potential risk areas. They may ask about the property’s history and when it was last painted or renovated.
2. Sample Collection: The team will then collect paint samples from various parts of the property. The number and location of the samples will depend on the size of the property and the results of the preliminary assessment.
3. Testing: The samples will be tested using chemical spot tests, XRF technique, and paint chip analysis. These tests can confirm the presence and concentration of lead in the paint.
4. Results Interpretation and Action Plan: Once the testing is complete, the team will interpret the results and provide a comprehensive report. If lead is found, they will also provide an action plan detailing the necessary steps for safe lead abatement.
5. Lead Abatement: If necessary, the team will then carry out the lead abatement process. This involves safely removing or sealing the lead-based paint to prevent any health risks.

Remember, dealing with lead-based paint should not be taken lightly. It requires expertise and care to ensure the safety of everyone involved. By working with a professional team, you can rest assured that your home or business is in safe hands.

For quality lead abatement services or to book a consultation, visit https://www.midwestenvironmental.com/lead-paint-abatement/ for more information.