Cleaning Crews for Lead Dust Cleanup? (Pittsburgh: house, contractors, living)

[toosie]

Hey all, I had a contractor in here and he claimed that we had lead paint. He also didn't contain or clean up the area well after doing all sorts of wood stripping and sanding and such. I don't have proof right now that there was lead paint but I'm worried about all the dust and how far it might have traveled through my home. Apparently lead dust is invisible.

I want to hire a cleaning crew that can handle that kind of cleanup. It's not full on lead abatement - just cleaning surfaces with an awareness that there might be lead dust on them.

Obviously, I did a crummy job vetting a contractor for the original project. Can any of you steer me to resources for reliable cleaning crews as described? I don't want a housekeeper but a group who can come in for a day with HEPA filter vacuums and disposable cleaning products for lead dust removal off of floors and mostly hard surfaces.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Hopes]

I found this UPMC webpage that says the Health Department will help you with the process of removing lead from your home.

Not sure if that means you can hire them, but I think that would be the best place to start for a reference to a qualified team.

You might be able to get the Health Department to test you house---maybe the contractor was wrong about your house having lead paint.

Sadly, it says that carpeting needs to be replaced.

Lead Poisoning – UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

My first call would be to the health department to find out how you can get your house tested for lead.

If the health department doesn't do it, they most certainly know who does.

I wouldn't pay someone to clean lead from the house and replace carpeting until I knew for sure there was lead in the house.

In the meantime, take pictures of everything. If this becomes expensive, you might need to take this contractor to court.

Here's the Allegheny Health Department's webpages on Lead: http://www.achd.net/lead/lead.html

The health department's website refers you to this EPA webpage to find qualified lead detection companies in our area: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm

You need to read this too: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/lead/pubs/leadrev.pdf

[toosie]

I think you're right that the Health Department won't actually do the cleaning - but maybe they can refer me to a reliable crew who won't scam me! I'll give them a try and hope maybe someone else here has done this before, too, and can help with advice.

I don't actually want to remove all sources of lead as in a lead abatement - I just want the surfaces to be cleaned well now since this contractor created so much dust. Then I'll take it from there with good housekeeping practices.

Thankfully we only have wall to wall carpet in one room and the rest are hardwood with throw rugs. There are methods for vacuuming the throw rugs and I think even vacuuming and steam cleaning the carpet. Oh and, we don't have kids or pets either so that's good too.

Unfortunately, the EPA rules for contractors don't go in effect until April 2010. So, it was sort of on me to find someone who was honest and would take the recommended (but not legally enforced) precautions. By the time I realized what was going on it was too late There aren't really pictures to take because lead dust is invisible. That's why you have to vacuum it with a HEPA filter - regular vacuums just kick those small particles back into the air and it's even worse than leaving it alone. Ugh!

I've been reading all sorts of stuff about the hazards and about dust cleaning in a home. The cleaning doesn't sound so bad, actually - just more than I'm ready to take on myself right now. The hazards are scary as hell I got myself good and worked up about this thinking of the extreme scenarios. With more reading it is sounding more manageable and less like a death sentence. I do plan to get a blood lead level test soon and hope that it isn't too out of whack from just this one extra exposure. Chances are I've been living with regular levels of lead dust all my life since I grew up in and almost always lived in old homes.

Thanks for the links, Hopes - I will use them!

Looking forward to input from anyone else who might have hired a cleaning crew for this kind of work before.

[Hopes]

You're welcome. Definitely read those links I provided.

Most of the cleaning should be wet cleaning, not vacuum cleaning.

That last link is very interesting too.

I never knew that a diet high in calcium, iron, protein, vitamin C and zinc and low in fats help protect children's bodies from absorbing lead.

It's a good thing that I've never been into high fat diets in my household. I lucked out by default.

[toosie]

Thanks again, Hopes. I definitely will read those links - but not tonight because I'm making myself sick with worry about it and my sister thinks I'm going overboard.

There are so many different sources for information and different approaches. Some say wet mop with vinegar and water and then HUD guidelines say HEPA vac, wet clean with special detergent and three buckets of water, HEPA vac again and test. Plus there's everything in between

Ya, lead settles in the bones and leaches calcium and also affects red blood cell production so you can end up with anemia, nervous system disorders, oh ugh...need to stop!

I'm calling my Dr tomorrow to set up a blood lead level test. That will either ease my mind some or send me off the deep end Then, I'm also gonna get a lead detection kit and see for myself where it's showing up. Then, I might also see if I can get someone to test to see what the levels are (the home kits only show the presence, not the degree of "infestation"). Then also gotta find a cleaning crew.

Glad to be getting out of here for a few days first and get some fresher air!