The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be increasing efforts in St. Louis, Missouri to promote compliance with the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule over the coming months.
The rule is meant to protect the public from lead exposure in older buildings while they are being repaired or renovated.
Homes, apartments and buildings constructed before 1978 are likely to contain surfaces that were coated with lead paint. Because of this, they carry more stringent regulations for contractors and workers during renovations, remodeling, repairs or painting. As part of the RRP rule, anyone working on these structures must be certified by an EPA or EPA-authorized state program, and follow lead-safe practices
To ensure that these regulations are followed, EPA inspectors will be taking a close look at projects in targeted St. Louis neighborhoods in the coming months, encouraging compliance and taking civil enforcement actions where it deems necessary.
Lead can cause a range of health issues, including brain, kidney and nervous system damage. It is especially harmful to children. When surfaces containing lead are subjected to processes such as sawing, sanding and demolition, they can release airborne particles of the toxic metal, which can cause health problems when inhaled.
Alerts Sign-up