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Lead-based Paint Dangerous for Children

Young children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning since they are more likely to ingest lead paint chips, flakes, or dust and are more sensitive to the adverse health effects of lead. Elevated lead levels in young children can trigger

• learning disabilities
• decreased growth
• hyperactivity
• impaired hearing
• brain damage

Lead can be found in a number of places inside and outside the home. For example, lead can be found in household dust from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into the house. It can also be found in drinking water coming from old lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

"Childhood lead poisoning is easily preventable with the right information and awareness. This grant will help Arizona tribal communities raise awareness about preventing lead's adverse health effects," said Administrator Jackson. "This project is an important example of the efforts happening across the country to protect our children from a major health threat."

Lead-based Paint Outreach to Native American Tribes

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is developing culturally specific outreach materials to educate tribal families, especially parents of young children, and tribal staff on the health risks to children from exposure to lead-based paint.

Lead Awareness for Facility Maintenance Personnel

The program specifically reaches out to facility maintenance personnel to stress the importance of using lead-safe work practices when renovating buildings.

The use of lead-based paint in U.S. residential housing was banned in 1978.

Approximately 75% of the U.S. housing stock built before 1978, or 64 million homes, contain some lead-based paint.

For information on EPA's lead paint program, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead

For information on lead in paint, dust and soil, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead

For information on protecting your family from lead hazards, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#where

• Nearly half (49%) of U.S. homeowners are not aware if the cleaning products they use are environmentally safe.
• 58% are likely (likely/very likely/extremely likely) to purchase "green" cleaning products.
• 63% of homeowners are concerned (concerned/very concerned/extremely concerned) that cleaning products may be made with chemicals that may be hazardous to their health. One in five (21%) are extremely concerned.
• Carpet is the most common floor covering in U.S. homes. The majority of U.S. homeowners use carpet in bedrooms (80%), living rooms (65%), offices/dens (68%) and family rooms (63%).
• The majority (52%) of survey participants indicated the primary advantage of carpet is that it's comfortable. 41% say the biggest drawback is that it shows soil.
• Among homeowners who replaced their carpet, 49% did so because of wear while four in 10 (38%) replaced carpet due to soiling and staining issues.
• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. homeowners have rugs in their homes.
• Half of U.S. homeowners (50 percent) say it's extremely or very important to hire a professional cleaning service that is certified by a professional organization.

About the IICRC
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is an ANSI-accredited non-profit certifying body for the flooring inspection, floor covering and specialized fabric cleaning and disaster restoration industries.

A survey recently conducted by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) found that

8 out of 10 U.S. homeowners (81%) feel that their family's health is directly related to the cleanliness of their floors.

Indoor Allergies Affected by Type of Floor

One-third (1/3, 33 percent) said that someone in their household suffers from indoor allergies. Among households with allergy sufferers, half (50 percent) agree that the type of flooring in the home can be attributed to allergies.

Three out of four homeowners (77 percent) vacuum their floors at least once per week and those with children are more likely to vacuum several times per week (47 percent among those with children and 32 percent among those without).

When it comes to deep cleaning, almost half of the homeowners (49%) deep clean their carpet at least every six months, with 39% hiring a professional carpet cleaning service.

Nearly half of the homeowners surveyed (45%) deep clean other hard surfaces in their home at least every six months.

Only 7% hire a professional.

The You'd Be Floored survey, commissioned by the IICRC, polled 1,155 homeowners throughout the country about issues related to flooring and floor cleanliness between October 29 and November 2, 2007. Detailed results can be found at www.CertifiedCleaners.org.