1. What type of paint commonly contains lead?
- Answer: Oil-based paint can contain lead.
2. In which occupations might individuals come into contact with lead?
- Answer: Jobs that may expose individuals to lead include construction, electronic manufacturing and
repair, restoration work, radiator repair, law enforcement, X-ray operations, commercial flashing,
fishing, battery production, smelting, painting, electrical work, and stained glass pottery.
3. According to HUD/EPA, what qualifies paint as lead-based?
- Answer: Paint is considered lead-based if it contains lead at 1 mg/cm² or 0.5% by weight.
4. What is OSHA's definition of lead-based paint?
- Answer: OSHA defines lead-based paint as any paint that has a detectable amount of lead.
5. What is the maximum allowable lead content in consumer products according to the CDC and CPSC?
- Answer: The acceptable level is 90 ppm or 0.009% by weight.
6. When did the use of lead-based paint start to decline?
- Answer: The usage of lead-based paint began to decrease in the 1950s as latex paint became more
affordable and widely used.
7. What was the standard lead content in residential paint in 1955, and how has it changed?
- Answer: The industry standard for residential lead-based paint in 1955 was 1%. This standard was
formally adopted by Congress in 1971 and subsequently lowered to 0.06% in 1978.
8. Are there any federal restrictions on lead-based paint for non-residential applications?
- Answer: There are no federal restrictions on the use of lead-based paint in industrial settings, and it
continues to be employed in certain areas.
, 9. How does lead typically enter the human body?
- Answer: Children can be exposed to lead through three primary routes:
- Ingesting contaminated food or substances
- Inhaling contaminated air
- Drinking contaminated water
- The most frequent mode of exposure is through contaminated household dust or yard soil.
10. Which consumer products are known to contain lead?
- Answer: Products that may contain lead include imported items, pool cue chalk, calcium
supplements sourced from bone or oyster shells, and some hair dyes.
11. What does "body burden" refer to?
- Answer: Body burden is the term used to describe the total amount of lead present in the body at a
given time.
12. How long does lead remain in the body?
- Answer: The half-life of lead is approximately 1 month in the bloodstream, 1 to 1.5 months in soft
tissues, and 25 to 30 years in bones.
13. Why is lead stored in bone particularly hazardous?
- Answer: Lead stored in bones can be released back into the bloodstream during pregnancy, illness
(such as cancer or AIDS), injury, or conditions like osteoporosis.
14. What are the three main areas of legal liability?
- Answer: The key areas of legal liability encompass laws, contracts, and torts.
15. What are the four essential components of a negligence (tort) claim?
- Answer:
- Duty: The defendant had a legal obligation to the plaintiff.