Though since 1978 lead paint is prohibited in the US, yet lead based paint coating persists in buildings built before the said cut off point.
Children below seven years are more vulnerable to lead paint poisoning. Even on ingestion of a small amount of lead they are prone to high risk of brain damage, learning disabilities, violent behavior, coma or even death.
Under the federal law landlords of houses built before 1978 are obliged to inform the tenants of the hazards of lead poisoning. Realtors also have a duty to make the prospective buyers of pre 1978 homes aware of dangers of lead based paints. The Housing and Urban Development Department has pulled up landlords of pre 1978 homes guilty of poor maintenance or non-disclosure.
The most common source of such danger is the paint chip or paint dust that wears off from deteriorating lead based paint coatings on neglected buildings. A blood test can only reveal if the high-risk child has high concentration of lead in his blood stream.
Suits can be instituted for damages against the owners, landlords or managers of residential houses and apartments where children live for failure to properly maintain apartments and for negligence to check the problem of lead based paint.
