If the source of lead in your home is from peeling, chipping or flaking paint, steps need to be taken to reduce this hazardous condition. Children under age six and pregnant women should not be in the home during the removal process.

It is important to prepare for removal of paint first. Protect your body. Wear protective clothing, including shoe covers, safety glasses, coveralls, hat, gloves and a respirator. Then, follow these procedures for removal:

• Remove furniture and household goods from the room.
• Seal off the room that you will work in with large 6-mil, plastic sheets and duct tape. Turn off all air heating, conditioning, ventilation systems and fans. Cover vents.
• Mist loose paint before scraping, and keep the area damp. Brush or scrape loose paint from the walls, ceilings, door facings, trim around windows and in window wells and on sills. Do not dry sand. Paint strippers may be used but they demand much care in handling.
• Sweep up flaking, peeling paint, making sure debris is damp so dust particles do not scatter. Do not dry sweep or vacuum up particles. Dispose of this waste in a sealed plastic bag.
• Damp-dust and mop affected area with a detergent such as Spic N Span, an automatic dishwashing detergent or TSP (tri-sodium phosphate). Then, damp-dust mop, wiping all of the room's surfaces.
• Vacuum entire room with a HEPA filter vacuum.
• Patch holes with spackling compound or plaster. Cover window sills and door trim where paint has peeled, with masking tape, heavy paper or contact paper until you repaint.
• Thoroughly wash your body after removal of lead-based paint.

These are temporary measures for reducing lead poisoning. For information on permanent lead reduction methods or information on screening for lead, contact your local health department or the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-215-0890.

For additonal information on lead, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website at MDH, or call 651-201-4610.

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