Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 results

• What state or federal agencies are responsible for evaluating records from the PADOH cancer registry? Are all types of cancers considered in this evaluation [including rare and/or environmentally associated cancers]?

  A few important items to note regarding the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry:  PADOH’s Pennsylvania Cancer Registry is a statewide data system responsible for collecting information on all new cases of cancer diagnosed or treated in Pennsylvania. It is part of the National Program of Cancer Registries administered by the Centers for…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• How do I contact EPA about lead concerns in my area?

  Answer: You may call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD(5323) or visit our Contact Us about Lead page . You can also report violations online . Question Number: 23002-33312 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

  • Last published: October 31, 2024

• Is there a Pennsylvania registry that tracks non-cancer diseases or immunological disorders?

  PADOH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services do not have a registry for multiple sclerosis (MS), MS-related diseases or immunologic disorders. Despite extensive research on the mechanisms of MS development and progress, the exact mechanism is not known and there are no definitive studies to show causation…

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• If a certified inspector or risk assessor determines that a component was installed post-1978 and is therefore free of lead-based paint, can the renovation firm rely on this determination?

  Yes, as long as the renovation firm has obtained a copy of the determination. The firm must retain a copy of the determination for three years after completion of the renovation. Question Number: 23002-18218 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• What can I do to protect my family from lead contamination that was found in my neighborhood?

  If environmental exposure to lead is suspected, you should contact your local or state environmental office to determine if there are known or suspected sources of lead in the area. If there are known or suspected sources of lead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following…

  • Last published: November 26, 2024

• Is a lead-based paint inspection sufficient to determine compliance with requirements of the RRP rule?

  Question: Is a lead-based paint inspection, performed by a certified inspector or risk assessor, that includes a written determination that various building components are free of paint or other surface coatings containing lead equal to or in excess of 1.0 milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm2) or 0.5% by weight sufficient…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• When testing a property for the presence of lead prior to beginning a renovation using an EPA-recognized lead test kit, must I test every component affected by the renovation?

  Answer: Yes. Because certified renovator training does not cover sampling protocols, certified renovators using EPA-recognized lead test kits or performing paint chip sampling to determine the applicability of the RRP Rule must test each and every component that will be affected in order to determine that the RRP Rule does…

  • Last published: November 20, 2024

• How do we know our drinking water has not been affected over the past 40+ years when the landfill was operating and after it closed since there were no regulations governing its operation or closure?

  The Norwood community is serviced by a public drinking water source. The public water supply must meet federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. Public water systems are required to share annual reports that describe what, if anything, is found in the water supply.

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• I am an owner/agent for an apartment community built prior to 1978. In 2004, testing of a random sample of units were negative for lead paint but positive for lead dust. With the positive lead dust result, are we required to comply with the RRP Rule?

  No. As long as the determination that the units are free of lead-based paint was made by an inspector or risk assessor certified by EPA or by an authorized State or Tribal program, renovations in the building are not covered by the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule…

  • Last published: November 14, 2024

• If a property is tested by a certified renovator, inspector, or risk assessor and found to be free of lead-based paint, does any testing need to be done again if work is done on the property several years later?

  Where a certified renovator uses an EPA-recognized lead test kit or performs paint chip sampling to determine that a component is free of lead-based paint, or a lead-based paint free determination is made by a certified inspector or risk assessor, firms performing renovations on the same components may rely on…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• Why is it difficult to establish a link between cancers or other illnesses and environmental exposures?

  The complex nature of cancer makes it inherently challenging to identify, interpret, and address cancer clusters. Cancer is a term describing different diseases that share a similar characteristic: uncontrollable cell growth and division. As a group, cancers are very common. Cancers are the second leading cause of death in the…

  • Last published: November 26, 2024

• How do we know that we have not been exposed to contamination from the Landfill for the past 40+ years?

  EPA works closely with its partner, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in evaluating potential health exposures from waste sources. ATSDR has the ability to look at the cancer registry data to evaluate potential past exposures, while EPA’s role is to evaluate current and future exposure. ATSDR…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• Can Norwood residents be exposed to contamination if we grow and eat our own vegetables from gardens in our yards?

  To date, contamination has not been found on residential properties that would pose a risk. In addition, the concentrations of the contaminants found at the Norwood Site are often found in urban communities. Studies show that exposure to contaminants via vegetable gardens is negligible. With the exception of some root…

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• What is the potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites?

  Answer: The potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites varies by site and depends upon whether a completed exposure pathway to the contaminant exists. For example, if site surfaces are redeveloped and, as a result, covered, there is no direct contact. Therefore, without such exposure, there is no current…

  • Last published: October 31, 2024

• I’m a certified renovator using an EPA-recognized lead test kit to determine whether or not I have to follow the Lead Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule lead-safe work practices. What components must test negative for lead-based paint in order to qualify for the exclusion in 40 CFR 745.82(a)(2)?

  Generally, a certified renovator using an EPA-recognized lead test kit must test each building component to be disturbed. The only exception to this requirement is when the components make up an integrated whole. In such a case, one or more component(s) may represent a system of components, unless it is…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024