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The Lead Law in MA requires the removal or covering of lead paint hazards in homes built before 1978 where any children under six lives. Lead paint hazards include loose lead paint, and lead paint surfaces defined as accessible to children.

Lead Laws were updated in MA Dec 1st 2017. 

1)  New childhood poisoning standards.  The test formerly considered poisoning over 25MG. Effective Dec 1, 2017, it was formally lowered to 10, with a NEW category of 5-10,  for concern. 

National threshold for lead poisoning is considered 5.  

There is no known 'safe' blood lead concentration; even blood lead concentrations as low as 5 µg/dL, may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioral difficulties and learning problems. As lead exposure increases, the range and severity of symptoms and effects also increases. 

2)  If a child tests over 10 in MA,  it will trigger required mandatory inspections, clinical follow-up for children and families, and crackdown with landlord violations and lead compliance. 

Owners are responsible with complying with the law. This includes owners of rental property as well as owners living in their own single family home. Financial help is available through tax credits, grants and loans. 

According to the State of Massachusetts, Lead Paint poisoning is the #1 preventable health epidemic in America.  Lead is a mineral so it is absorbed like iron and calcium, the body stores minerals in the bones.  Talk to Boston Children’s Hospital if you need remediation. Problems of note are developmental delays, irreversible brain damage, and IEP for life.

The state is cracking down on lead paint because the costs in schools is prohibitive.  An IEP in school costs $14,000 each year, over $200,000 during a child’s school career.  The best plan to return IEP money to the state pocketbooks, is to put this health problem in the hands of the homeowners, and remove the burden from the state, thus a 2017 crack down on compliance for environments for children under 6.

Further, lead paint was warrantied for 40 years by paint companies.  The warranty period has been reached, the state of MA is anticipating further deterioration of paint, and as paint gets old it turns to dust.

The average house is over 100 years old in MA, 71% housing stock in Massachusetts was built before 1978.  

 Lead in water is rare, it would come from old fixtures and lead solder, typically if water sits at night, the lead leaches into the water. Boston treats the water so there is a barrier to lead pipes.