Lead and radon are both invisible, poisonous hazards in Maine homes. Sellers and landlords must make disclosures about lead and radon testing reports.
Lead Poisoning
Too much lead in the body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. Even low levels can slow a child’s normal development and cause learning and behavioral problems. Lead paint is considered one of Maine’s most dangerous threats to children.
Though most interior and exterior house paints sold since the mid-1970’s do not contain lead, older homes in Maine may still have surfaces with lead-based paint. Lead poisoning can be caused by eating, chewing, or sucking on lead painted objects such as windowsills, railings, toys, furniture, jewelry, or printed material. The risk of lead poisoning is increased by normal hand-to-mouth activity in young children. Other sources include contaminated soil or dust and fumes created by home renovation and sand blasting. Renovations of older homes (e.g., painting) can often result in freeing up lead paint particles.
Both federal and Maine law require landlords and home sellers to make certain disclosures concerning lead paint at their property. The Maine CDC offers free lead dust test kits to those living with young children or who are expecting a child and live in a home constructed before 1950.
Radon
Breathing air with elevated levels of radon over an extended period increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The higher the radon concentration and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk. Radon is normally present either due to radon gas entering a home through its basement floor from the soil or from a privately drilled well. There is no known safe level of radon. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has established “goal values” based on estimated health risks and economics.
Two types of measurements for radon are recommended:
- an initial screening test to determine if a house may have a problem, and
- a follow-up test to determine appropriate remedial action.
For screening purposes, a house on a public water supply should perform an air radon test at the lowest livable area. A house on a private water supply should perform this same air radon test plus a water radon test; a gross alpha test is also recommended. Follow-up tests are performed to better evaluate the health risk in the living area plus appropriate remedial action.
To learn more about radon and order test kits, visit the website of the Maine Public Health Laboratory.