PROFESSIONAL LEAD TEST KIT FOR PAINT & DUST Lead Poisoning from lead contaminated paint and dust affects one out of eleven people in the United States causing brain damage and sometimes death. WHAT IS LEAD? Lead is a heavy, soft, bluish metal that occurs naturally underneath the earth’s surface. Since it is virtually indestructible and nonbiodegradable, manufacturers have used it to make many different products including paint, batteries, gasoline, pipes, and solder. HOW DO YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH LEAD? Although the use of lead-based paint (LBP) was banned in 1978, over 57 million homes still contain some lead according to The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Lead based paint can be on windows, doors, wood trim, walls, cabinets, porches, stairs, railings, fire escapes, old furniture (cribs), and even children’s toys. As LBP cracks and peels, paint chips are loosened and ingested by children. Lead dust is the most common source of lead exposure. Moving parts of windows and doors create paint dust. Remodeling and renovations also create paint dust. When a LBP surface is sanded or scraped, it breaks down into tiny, sometimes invisible, fine particles that children swallow or inhale. Children often ingest lead dust by normal hand-mouth activity. Some other sources of lead are vinyl miniblinds, ceramics, dishes, toys, water and sewer pipes, solder, soil, lead crystal and drinking water. WHAT CAN LEAD DO TO YOU? It is estimated that more than 200,000 children in the United States contract lead poisoning each year. When inhaled or ingested, even in small amounts, lead can cause permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, and hearing, especially in children under 7 years old. Lead poisoning is not only a problem for children. In adults, low levels of lead exposure can cause, headaches, mood changes, sleep disturbances, a decrease in fertility (men), high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, joint and muscle pain. High levels of lead exposure can cause mental retardation, blindness, convulsions, comas, and even death. Lead can also cause problems in pregnancy and affect a baby’s normal development. HOW DO YOU FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A LEAD PROBLEM? To find out if lead is present in your home or office, you must test. The PRO-LAB Professional Lead Test Kit for Paint & Dust is an EPA approved laboratory test that will accurately and reliably test your paint sample and dust sample for lead contamination to 1 ppm (part per million) content providing a professional lab report within two weeks of our receipt of your test samples. COMPLETE DIRECTIONS INSIDE KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN CONTENTS Two (2) sample bags Two (2) dust wipes Gloves Pre-paid postage envelope Information form IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PLEASE CALL (800) 427-0550 Or visit us on the Internet at: www.prolabinc.com Lead Poisoning is the number one preventable disease among children (birth to 7 yrs. old) affecting more than 200,000 children each year. Lead Poisoning is caused by the ingestion and inhalation of lead compounds from lead contaminated paint and lead dust caused by the break- down of the lead paint. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 75 percent of all private housing built before 1978 contains some lead paint. If you or someone you know is buying a home, or is living in a home built before 1978, the PRO-LAB Lead Test Kit for Paint & Dust is a necessity for preventing lead poisoning. Are you buying a home? Are you selling a home? Are you doing renovations? The PRO-LAB Lead Test Kit for Paint & Dust satisfies the U.S. EPA Title X (lead contamination) disclosure requirements for real estate transactions when conducted by a certified inspector. NOTE: This sample collection kit provides 2 (two) sample bags. You may take a sample of either one paint or one dust sample or you make take two samples of either paint or dust. Optionally, additional samples (in your own plastic bag) may also be included for analysis. Each sample requires a $30 lab analysis fee. – DIRECTIONS FOR taking a PAINT sample – ADDITIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED: KNIFE OR SCRAPER 1. Locate the suspect test area and clean the surface of dust and dirt. 2. Put on the enclosed plastic gloves and using a clean knife, scraper, or other device suitable for removing paint, cut at an angle to expose all layers of paint down to the substrate (cement wall, wall board, wood, or other base surface). 3. Collect approximately 1 tablespoon full of paint chips or scrapings and place inside the enclosed sample bag and seal. BE CAREFUL that the paint sample does NOT include the substrate as this will dilute the test causing inaccurate results. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS REQUIRED: RULER OR TAPE MEASURE 1. Selection of test area. High friction surfaces are most likely to have deteriorating paint causing lead dust. Therefore, choose the area with the highest degree of wear and tear such as bare floors, interior window sills and window wells (the area in which the closed window sits). 2. For a bare floor measure a one-square foot area for sampling. This can be: 1 ft. x 1 ft., or 6 in. x 2 ft., or 4 in x 3 ft. If you are testing the window sill or window well, measure the length and width of the surface and write it down on the information form below. IMPORTANT: The laboratory must have the measurement in order to calculate your results. 3. Obtaining the sample. Put on the enclosed plastic gloves to avoid contact between your skin and the sample. Take the wipe out of the sample bag provided. a. Completely unfold the wipe and rub it in a backward ‘S’ pattern once over the entire sampling area, taking care not to ‘push’ the dust, but actually pick it up. See “1st” illustration. b. Fold the wipe in half so that the soiled side is to the inside of the wipe, (folding the dust into the wipe). Next rub once over the surface area again at a 90 degree angle to the first backward ‘S’ as shown at right. See “2nd” illustration. Then fold the dust into the wipe and p lace the used wipe back in the sample bag and seal. STANDARD LAB RESULTS The PRO-LAB Professional Lead Test Kit for Paint & Dust requires a $30 lab fee for each sample submitted (if you submit both samples the total cost is $60). Place the sample bags in the enclosed pre-paid postage envelope along with the information form, and a check, money order (made payable to PRO-LAB ) or a credit card voucher for $30 per sample submitted (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover only). Mail immediately with- in 24 hours of the collection of the sample(s). Within two weeks after PRO-LAB has received your samples, we will send you an easy to read evaluation indicating the exact content of lead in your paint or dust sample. EXPRESS FAX SERVICE Express Service is available for an additional $15 per sample. In order to use the express service, you must send the sample(s) , the information form and proper payment to PRO-LAB using an overnight shipping company such as Federal Express, Airborne Express or UPS. Send the samples to PRO-LAB, 1675 N. Commerce Parkway, Suite 100, Weston, FL 33326. (Express sample can only be received Monday - Friday). Within 72 hours of our receipt you will receive your faxed results. PRO-LAB catalog includes Test Kits for Mold, Radon Gas, Water Quality, Asbestos, Lead, Carbon Monoxide, and Bacteria. Close Window