Canada's View on Lead Paint Issues

March 6, 2011 -- Home energy renovations and retrofits may help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut costs, but a new report urges greater education and care to avoid the release of toxic substances during the process.

Children are most susceptible to such exposures, and activities taking place during renovations and retrofits can significantly increase their risk if care isn't taken, according to the report from the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

Kathleen Cooper, a senior researcher at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, said the team spent a year doing research, including an online survey of energy efficiency auditors and building professionals.

The survey found while 93 per cent of respondents discuss some environmental health issues with their clients, only 16 per cent raise lead as a concern. Among energy professionals surveyed, only 7.1 per cent reported screening or testing for lead.

South of the border, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires contractors to be lead-safe certified if they are doing renovation, repair or painting in pre-1978 homes, child-care facilities and schools.

Cooper said there's strong evidence that children living in poverty bear a disproportionate burden of environmental health risks. Low-income housing is most typically older housing where risks are often greater, particularly for lead.

"They often live in substandard housing and housing that's often in most need of the energy retrofits," she said in an interview. When building professionals were asked why they think people aren't asking about these issues, one of the reasons suspected was that they don't feel confident in their knowledge in the area, said Erica Phipps, partnership director for the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE).