Recently, there's been increasing publicity in the news throughout the United States about the impact of unsafe lead paint on children's health. One of the states highly impacted by lead paint poisoning is New Jersey. Since 2000, the state reported more than 225,000 cases of children under six with elevated levels of lead poisoning. Over 3000 of those cases came recently, since 2015.

The problems and risks for New Jersey children caused governor Chris Christie to take notice. Recently, Governor Christie signed a bill into law that reduces the threshold of lead levels in a children' blood that requires the state to take action. Previously, the state only had to help children who showed lead poisoning levels of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter. The new level is 5 micrograms, which is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended standard.

Experts believe the best way to help children avoid lead paint poisoning is prevention, and the new policy will help catch unsafe living situations sooner. There's no change in the state procedures for assisting families whose children test above the state's elevated levels. If you live in New Jersey, this is the process for getting help:

1. In accordance with the law, have your children tested for lead paint exposure at one year old.
2. If your children show elevated blood levels, your town will receive notification and send a nurse to your family home. The nurse will inspect the home and discover the cause of exposure.
3. The state will require the home's owners to cover or remove the source of the lead paint risk. The can involve removing or covering the dangerous paint.

Although Governor Christie previously vetoed similar bills that helped fund lead paint containment, he's happily changed his view. Environmental advocate and director Elyse Pivnick believes this time that state will approve the $3-$10 million needed to implement the new law. The future looks bright for keeping New

Picture this: you, your spouse, and your young child are in your backyard enjoying a nice summer day. Birds are chirping, burgers are grilling, and everyone is smiling. Everything seems perfect--until your child starts coughing, and you can't figure out why. Assuming it's probably allergies, you decide it's time to take your family inside. However, the next morning when you look outside, there is a thin coating of white dust over your entire yard.

What would you do if this dust contained lead? Who is responsible for paying for damages if any should come from this? If you say the neighbor, one couple from New Orleans would agree.

Andrew Pellett and Rachel Smith are suing their neighbor, Aaron R. Dare, for allegedly exposing their family to lead. Along with having to dispose of some of their belongings, the couple also has a minor child who will need monitoring for exposure to lead, as children are the most susceptible to harmful side effects that come from this chemical. According to the couple, dust from Dare's renovations covered their house, and upon testing, this dust was apparently found to contain lead.

Exposure to lead can be devastating, with side effects ranging from headaches all the way to death. Because of this and the regulations from 1978 stating that all homeowners or lessors must make buyers or lessees aware of the presence of lead, it makes the most sense to use materials that are lead free. However, even if you are making renovations without the intent to sell or lease your property, you could still face the wrath of the law, as Aaron R. Dare may, if you use harmful materials. Keep this in mind the next time you are going to make renovations, as you may be held liable for more than just your own property if you choose to use lead-based materials.

If you notice a home built before America's 1978 lead-paint ban with chipping, cracking or otherwise damaged paint, chances are that lead is in that very paint. Get professional help from contractors right away to avoid lead poisoning before it does permanent damage, especially to young children. 

ECOBOND® is the nation’s leader in developing and distributing products that improve the protection of human health and safety from the hazards of lead in the home, workplace, and the environment. With over 15 years in patented and proven success, the ECOBOND® family of products have been extensively used in successfully treating lead hazards in over 11,000,000 tons of material while serving over 100,000 customers in the United States and Internationally.

To learn more visit www.EcobondPaint.com, view our lead paint treatment video or download our free Industry Report: http://www.LeadPaintRemovalReport.com

Whether they're looking to live in a beautiful, historic old home, or simply find an older rental that meets their budget, many families with younger children end up living in homes built before 1978, when lead paint was banned in homes in the United States. Recently, a concerned parent wrote to a news column in The Oklahoman, who lives with children in an older home built before lead paint was banned.

Drs. Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko answered the reader's question. According to Glazier and Ko, homes built before 1984 are 84% likely to have lead paint. With homes built between 1940 and 1959, the odds lower slightly to 69%, and between 1960 and 1977, the odds are 24%.

The doctors write that lead paint is a health risk to children under six and pregnant women, with the following health risks for all household members:

•    Children can experience lowered IQ, hyperactive behavior, hearing difficulties, and reduced growth.

•    Expectant mothers could give birth to smaller babies, as fetal growth can be impaired, and the unborn child has certain increased health risks.

•    Adults can also have problems with damage to various organs, nerves, and their blood.

Fortunately, they also note that there are things you can do to assure safety for young children in homes with lead paint, such as:

•    Make sure the paint in the house isn't chipping or starting to crumble. When paint remains in good condition on walls, it's very rarely a safety risk.

•    If you see lead paint in bad condition, vacuum and sweep any crumbling paint immediately to prevent children from eating it. CAUTION: You cannot merely vacuum or sweep, it must be done with special equipment to minimize the risk of lead and lead dust from being a factor. Consider hiring a certified company to help you safely remove or paint over the lead paint or use a Lead Paint Treatment such as ECOBOND® - Lead Defender® which seals and treats the lead and lead dust in lead-based paint.

•    If your home tests positive for lead paint, get your children's blood levels checked regularly following federal guidelines.

If you live in an older home that might have lead paint on the walls, be aware of the risks, but know that following these safety procedures will help keep your family safe.

We all know lead paint is bad. It was hugely popular for a while, the same way asbestos was the leading insulation material for a decade or so, but then we learned that lead is a dangerous heavy metal. Unfortunately, while we stopped painting our houses and schools with several coats of the stuff, we still have an unbelievable number of homes and apartments that still have their old, lead-based coats.

Why? Mostly because removing lead paint is expensive. Because, as anyone who's ever removed paint knows, it gets everywhere without the proper precautions. And if the dust from lead paint removal gets loose, you're doing more than putting an unsightly coating on your neighbor's lawn; you're creating a situation where you're liable for any damage that lead paint could do.

Lead Paint Liability is Broader Than Most People Realize

Lots of people think of their lead paint as their problem, but they don't often understand the scope of their responsibility if they try to remove it.

Say, for example, that your house had lead paint on its exterior. That's almost unheard of these days, but let's say it happened. You know lead paint dust is where the real threat is, because it gets in your eyes, and into your lungs, where your body absorbs the heavy metals. So, you put on all the necessary safety gear, pick up your power sander, and start grinding that paint right off. You're protected, so there are no problems, right?

Well, if that lead dust affects anyone, you could potentially be liable for it. If someone next door, or even on the next street over, inhales that dust, it's your fault. If the lead gets into the local water table, makes someone's dog sick, or must be cleaned up by a third-party, then that's all on you.

That's why it's so important to contact a provider of professional services and make sure your lead paint is dealt with appropriately because it has the potential to affect more than just you and your home.

ECOBOND® is the nation’s leader in developing and distributing products that improve the protection of human health and safety from the hazards of lead in the home, workplace, and the environment. With over 15 years in patented and proven success, the ECOBOND® family of products have been extensively used in successfully treating lead hazards in over 11,000,000 tons of material while serving over 100,000 customers in the United States and Internationally.

To learn more visit www.EcobondPaint.com, view our lead paint treatment video or download our free Industry Report: http://www.LeadPaintRemovalReport.com

In this article, we are going to discuss the hazards of lead based paint and a revolutionary product to help combat those hazards which provides a safer environment for you and your family.

With the increased awareness of lead hazards in our communities, it is important to have a good understanding of the lead hazard and your options.

Lead paint is dangerous because lead dramatically affects the body in many ways including the potential for neurological disorders, decreased learning capabilities, shorter attention spans, speech and memory loss and the potential for decreased kidney and digestive & reproductive systems.

Additionally, lead has been shown to decrease bone and muscle growth, cause seizures, coma, anemia & high blood pressure. 

Now, let’s cover the methods for reducing lead hazards, there are two common methods which are:

• Abatement
• Interim control
• And an exciting NEW category we are calling Treatment”
  
  

Abatement is designed to eliminate lead based paint or lead based hazards for up to 20 years. Abatement includes removing the lead based paint and dust, encapsulating the lead based paint or replacing the lead based components.

Interim Control temporarily (<20 years) reduces exposure to lead-based paint hazards through: repairs, painting, maintenance, special cleaning, occupant-protection measures, clearance and education programs.

Some of the typical activities include: paint stabilization, correcting dust generating conditions and creating smooth, cleanable horizontal surfaces.

Now, the next method takes interim control to the next level because ECOBOND® Lead Defender is our Patented Paint-it-on Leave-it-on® Formula which seals and treats the lead and lead dust in lead-based paint.

ECOBOND® Lead Defender is an approved Interim Control with the added benefit of being a “treatment”.

It is a high-quality latex paint infused with a patented blend of specialty phosphates and paint penetrators designed to treat surface lead.

This results in a formation of a lead phosphate mineral that are resistant to acid and water leaching which will promote environmental and human health protection; including decreasing the bioavailability of the lead to humans and the overall ecosystem.

The older options can be expensive, ranging from $2 to $8 per square foot; require multiple coats which reduces your coverage and requires more product; can involve complicated application and lead disturbance, costly preparation materials and sometimes extensive manpower to remove the potentially hazardous waste.

Limited Options – Your only options were to:

Encapsulation – This is a method designed to encase the lead hazard after proper preparation and coat over it. Encapsulation does not treat the lead hazard in any way, it just seals it. If the area becomes exposed over time, or by being scraped, gouged, rubbed off, etc., the hazard is now exposed and must be encapsulated again.

Removal – This option is available for structures not desired to remain or are being replaced but is costly to properly handle, abate the lead, or dispose of as the waste is hazardous and cannot be landfilled just anywhere. You must follow all state and local regulations. 

Our new ECOBOND® Lead Defender Treatment option provides:

Lower Cost – You are treating the structure and reducing the chances of hazardous ingestion and inhalation with one coat application, a robust 250 to 300 square feet per gallon usage and if disposal is desired, when coated, the structure can be disposed of in a non-hazardous way. Thus, eliminating costly hazardous landfill fees.

Easy to Use – Patented Paint It On, Leave It On® formula. Can be applied with a roller, sprayer or brush.

Environment and Worker Safe – The product has been tested through third party validation, meets specific safety regulations of EPA and HUD and has very low VOC’s. It is water clean-up and has the option of the Bitrex enhancement added providing an extremely bitter taste to help add extra protection against a child ingesting a lead hazard contaminated chip or piece.

Not Just a Cover-up Product – As compared to encapsulants which just cover lead, ECOBOND® Lead Defender™ seals and treats the lead hazard.

ECOBOND® Lead Defender™ is a lead hazard reduction sealant, primer & topcoat which currently qualifies for use as an Interim Control as part of repair, lead maintenance, lead dust control and painting.

Lead Paint Stabilization is achieved by sealing and treating lead paint surfaces with ECOBOND® Lead Defender™, applying a new protective coating over the existing lead paint or on the substrate that the lead paint was removed from.

Understanding the Options for treating lead paint:

ECOBOND® Lead Defender™ is a Paint-it-on-Leave-it-on patented specialty paint, primer and sealant product that seals and treats lead dust and lead-based paint.  ECOBOND® Lead Defender™ provides enhanced safety protection with a multi-purpose, low cost solution which is specially designed to provide broad lead based paint solutions with excellent coverage.

The typical options for treating lead paint are:

#1 Encapsulants which provide a barrier between lead and the environment. Generally, this is a thick product requiring multiple coats and is often difficult to apply and is more expensive due to low coverage rates.

#2 Paint Strippers which are a liquid or paste, often very caustic, and are used to remove paint from a surface. But the paint removal is very costly, potentially dangerous to health, time intensive and creates hazardous waste, then would require a primer or a sealant.

#3 Standard Latex Paint which is easy to apply, but not specifically designed to treat or seal lead based paint.

But now there is a preferred solution. ECOBOND® Lead Defender:

• Reduces Lead Hazards up to 99%  EPA Method 1311
  • Reduces Airborne Lead Dust up to 99% ASTM E1613-12
  • Reduces Lead Bioavailability up to 85% EPA 9200.1-86
  • Now includes Bitrex® a bitter-tasting additive to discourage oral contact!
  • Protects against Water and Acid Rain Leaching
  • Is Mold & Mildew Resistant ASTM D5590-00 modified
  • Is Fire Resistant ASTM E84
  • Has excellent Hiding Power
  • Has excellent Adhesion
  • Can be used for Interior & Exterior Use with Smooth Texture & Finish
  • Has very Low Odor
  • Is tintable with up to 4 oz. of Universal or Water Based Colorant

ECOBOND® Lead Defender is Economical, easy to use and is simply cleaned up with water

ECOBOND® Lead Defender is easily applied with:

• An Airless Sprayer – Recommended tip size .017 to .031
• A traditional High quality Roller with ½” to ¾” nap
• Or a Nylon/polyester blend Brush

Make sure to Mix thoroughly for 1 to 3 minutes prior to use with a mechanical mixer or drill powered mixer to ensure proper product performance. The Coverage Rate will be 250 to 300 square feet per gallon with a Dry Time of 2 to 4 hours to the touch and 4 hours for recoating 

ECOBOND® Lead Defender can be used on Wood, drywall, plaster, steel, masonry, concrete & asphalt on Industrial facilities, DOT, structures,  Commercial Offices, commercial buildings, apartment complexes, recreation centers, Residential Homes, parks & playgrounds, and more!

While it seems that all we see and hear in the news are the negative aspects of lead in our water and homes, there is a solution when looking for viable lead paint treatment options. Landlords can enjoy peace of mind in protecting their tenants from the dangers of lead paint with our proven & patented ECOBOND® family of products!

In Western Massachusetts, four landlords were recently fined due to violating fair housing act laws, The Amherst Bulletin reports. According to the report, the landlords and property management properties tried to avoid renting to families with children due to the presence of hazardous lead paint in the rental units.

The law requires landlords to rent to families when dangerous levels of lead paint are present in the unit. Before the families moving in, the landlord must remove or clean up the lead paint in the home to make it safe for younger children. Landlords prove the safety of the unit, and suitability for children, by passing an inspection and getting a lead certificate that proves its safety.

There is good news that comes from these violations, some of the landlords in violation of the law are cleaning up their act. Some of the companies reported they'll be looking to actively de-lead their units and will be working to create more rental properties without lead paint for families with children.

While these are isolated cases, they do happen from time to time, and many times, because landlords may not know that there is a solution readily available and very affordable that can help them solve this issue before it becomes a problem.

ECOBOND® LBP - Lead Defender® seals and treats the lead and lead dust in lead-based paint with a paint-it-on leave-it-on application. Now treat the lead for improved safety! www.EcobondLBP.com

Lead Paint News: Children's Exposure in Oakland, CA Concerns City

A recent lead paint contamination study has officials in Oakland, CA concerned. A report published by Reuters last month indicated that Oakland has one of the highest child lead paint exposure rates in the US, greater than in Flint, MI. Unlike in Flint, the lead paint exposure primarily comes from lead paint on walls, not in the water.

Of particular concern in the report is Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood (zip code 94601), where 7.57% of children tested for elevated levels of lead paint, which is higher than 5 mg per deciliter, a significantly higher rate than the 2.5% national levels.

The report indicates that much of the danger comes from old homes and apartment buildings in the Fruitvale neighborhood, where around 90% of the housing stock was built before lead paint was banned in 1978. Fruitvale is a lower-income community, so the majority of residents rent.

Fortunately, there's hope for the children living in Oakland, as the city and the state of California want to help these kids live in an environment that is safe for their health and well-being. In one recent example, a 55-unit apartment building with at least 20 children under six in residence received a grant to clean up the apartment complex after it was discovered the unit had numerous lead paint hazards.

For buildings built before 1978, there may be potential existence of lead paint. With the right plan, landlords can make sure that families can live safely in their units.

ECOBOND™ is the nation’s leader in developing and distributing products that improve the protection of human health and safety from the hazards of lead in the home, workplace, and the environment. With over 15 years in patented and proven success, the ECOBOND™ family of products have been extensively used in successfully treating lead hazards in over 11,000,000 tons of material while serving over 100,000 customers in the United States and Internationally.

To learn more visit www.EcobondPaint.com to view our lead paint treatment video or download our free Industry Report: http://www.LeadPaintRemovalReport.com