Paint Industry, States Agree To

Attorney General Spitzer today announced a nationwide agreement aimed at educating consumers about the risk of lead paint exposure during home improvement work.

The agreement, reached between 49 state attorneys general and the National Paint and Coating Association, requires paint manufacturers to affix warning labels on paint cans and provide consumers with information on how to avoid exposure to lead paint.

American manufacturers discontinued production of lead paint in 1978, but more than 80 percent of homes built before that time are believed to include some lead paint. It is in these homes that consumers are placed at risk during home repair or improvement work that involves sanding, chipping or resurfacing of old paint.

"Lead poisoning continues to be a major health threat, especially for children," Spitzer said. "Clear warning labels on paint cans should help reduce the number of lead poisoning cases here in New York and across the nation."

The agreement requires a lead exposure warning label on the side of the paint can, as part of the manufacturer's surface preparation instructions, as well as an abbreviated warning either on the top of the can or on a separate sticker where the warning is less likely to be obscured after the paint is used. The National Paint and Coatings Association has also agreed to fund and provide consumer education and training courses on lead-safe renovation and repainting to homeowners, contractors, landlords and housing workers.

Also under the terms of the agreement, the National Paint and Coatings Association will develop discount programs for safety equipment. The paint companies have agreed to offer substantial discounts of at least 25 percent for the rental and purchase of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners and approved respirators. These are important tools that should be used during removal of all paint to maximize protection of workers and residents.

The state attorneys general participating in the initiative met in October 2002 with representatives from 10 major paint manufacturers to begin negotiations.

Spitzer commended the industry association for working with the attorneys general to protect consumers.

Lead poisoning is a major health hazard, affecting 1.7 million children across the nation under the age of 5 years. In 2001 alone, 6,225 children in New York City were newly identified as being poisoned by lead. Lead is most dangerous to young children, who are at a critical stage in their development and absorb lead more readily than adults. Even at low levels, lead can cause a range of neurological damage including IQ reduction, shortened attention span, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior and learning disabilities. These effects are long term and often irreversible.

To learn more about working safely with lead paint, consumers should call the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or log on to www.epa.gov/lead.

The multi-state agreement reached with the National Paint and Coatings Association was led by Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly and negotiated with assistant attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Oregon.

In total, attorneys general from 49 states and jurisdictions signed on to the agreement, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Copies of a report entitled "Look Out for Lead" are available on Attorney General Spitzer's website: www.ag.ny.gov/publication-order-form

Assistant Attorney General Simon Wynn worked on this initiative for the New York Attorney General's Office.