The Allegany County Department of Health would like to remind any residents doing home renovations that there are ways to keep lead dust to a minimum. Allegany County has many older housing units and those that were built before 1978 most likely contain lead paint. Lead is a metal that can harm children and adults when it gets into their bodies. Lead can be found in dust, air, water, soil, and in some products used in and around our homes.

Do-it-yourself projects can easily stir up dangerous lead dust. Lead paint dust or chips can cause serious health problems, especially for children and pregnant women. Children and pregnant women must not do any lead paint removal work, and they should stay out of the work area until clean-up is complete. If you’re not sure you can clean up every day, arrangements for temporary living quarters should be made.

As a homeowner you can do the work yourself, however, the Allegany County Department of Health has grant funding to help address lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned homes and rental units that were built before 1978; with priorities set for homes with children under the age of six and pregnant women due to the long-lasting effects that Lead poisoning can have on them.  Remediation work may include painting, enclosure, removal, and replacement of windows, doors, moldings and other surfaces or components that contain lead hazards. The deadline to apply for the free home repairs is December 1^st, 2025. Visit https://www.alleganyco.gov/departments-health-lead/ to learn more.

But if you choose to do the work yourself, there are ways to keep health risks to a minimum. Protect your family and home during renovation projects by setting up safely, controlling the dust and cleaning up completely. Always use a method that creates the least amount of dust.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO DISTURB LEAD-BASED PAINT FOLLOW THESE PRACTICES:

• WORK SMART
  • Choose paint removal methods that minimize dust.
  • Avoid sanding, burning, and grinding; and replace building components rather than removing paint when possible.
  • Wear disposable coveralls, shoes, hair covering, goggles and a properly fitting respirator.
  • Only HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) respirators will filter lead dust and fumes. Simple paper or fabric dust masks will NOT protect you from lead dust.

• WORK WET
  • When paint removal is necessary, use water while working to reduce dust.
  • Use a water spray bottle to wet any surface to be scraped or sanded.

• WORK CLEAN
  • Prepare the work area. Use plastic sheeting to cover floors, furniture and other items that may collect dust.
  • Close Windows and cover doorways to work areas with plastic sheeting.
  • Plastic sheeting isn’t expensive and must be thrown out after the job is done.
  • Clean up carefully. Before leaving the work area, dispose of coveralls, and remove dust from your clothes with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner.
  • Shop vacs should not be used for cleanup because they can spread lead dust.
  • Shower as soon as you can, so you do not spread lead dust around your home or elsewhere.
  • The Allegany County Department of Health has HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners available to borrow.

What is lead poisoning?

Lead can harm a young child’s growth, behavior, and ability to learn. Children under six years old are more likely to get lead poisoning than any other age group. Most often, children get lead poisoning from breathing in or swallowing dust from old lead paint that gets on floors and windowsills, hands and toys. Lead can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy.

What you should know about lead testing:

Children who may have been exposed to lead-based paint should have a blood lead test to see if they have elevated blood lead levels. All children one and two years of age, or who may have been exposed, should be tested. Other children under six years of age, or who may have been exposed, should be tested if their doctors think they are at risk.

For more information and methods on making your home lead-safe:

For lead testing call the Allegany County Department of Health at 585.268.9250, follow us on Facebook or visit Allegany County Department of Health.