Research published by ScienceDaily found that DIY home renovation projects on older homes often increased rather than decreased children’s lead exposure. Well-intentioned homeowners who sanded floors, stripped paint, or renovated kitchens and bathrooms in pre-1978 homes inadvertently created lead dust hazards that elevated their children’s blood lead levels. The study found that some renovation activities, when performed without proper lead-safe practices, left homes more contaminated than before the work began.
Source: ScienceDaily
This research underscores why EPA RRP regulations apply not just to commercial contractors but to any renovation work on pre-1978 homes where children or pregnant women reside. The well-intentioned homeowner or under-trained contractor can inadvertently cause the very harm they’re trying to avoid. Proactive Safety Services provides EPA RRP certification training that teaches the specific work practices, containment methods, and cleanup protocols proven to prevent renovation-related lead exposure.
