United States 
Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) 
Prevention, Pesticides 
and Toxic Substances 
(7404) 
EPA 747-F-01-002 
April 2001 
(http://www.epa.gov/lead) 
&EPA FACT SHEET 
Identifying Lead Hazards in Residential Properties 
EPA has developed standards to help property owners, lead paint professionals, and government agencies 
identify lead hazards in residential paint, dust, and soil. These hazards may be paint chips, lead in household 
dust, child-accessible or mouthable painted surfaces, friction surfaces of windows and doors, and lead in 
residential soil. The Agency has released this fact sheet to summarize new standards and recommendations to 
better address lead hazards in and around homes. The complete text of the final rule is available through the 
National Lead Information Center or EPA's Web site (see For More Information). 
Lead Paint Hazard 
Standards 
Lead paint is usually not a hazard if the paint: 
- Is in good condition. 
- Is not on an impact or friction surface (like a 
window, door, or a stair). 
What Makes Lead Paint a Hazard: 
The lead paint is deteriorating. As the paint 
breaks down, it releases paint chips and lead 
dust that can contaminate the home and be 
easily ingested by young children through hand- 
to-mouth activity. 
This deteriorated lead paint may be inside 
residential buildings or child-occupied facilities or 
on the exterior of any residential building or child- 
occupied facility. 
The lead paint is on friction or impact surfaces. 
Impact to surfaces like door frames or stairs can 
damage the paint and release lead. Also, the 
paint on friction surfaces like windows, stairs, 
and floors can break down during normal use 
and release lead. 
The lead paint is on child-accessible surfaces 
that show evidence of teeth marks. Beware of 
lead paint on surfaces such as window sills, 
railings, and stair edges that are at child height 
and have been or may be chewed on or mouthed 
by a child. 
All testing for, and identification of, lead 
hazards should be completed per EPA 
regulations. 
Lead Dust: 
Why Is It A Problem? 
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