US EPA

6882710 

Journal Article 

Asbestos and lead abatement: Canada vs the United States 

Flynn, J 

1998 

Chk 

Hazardous Materials Management
ISSN: 1193-2074 

10 

5 

21 

English 

Lead abatement in Canada has also been slower to surface in comparison to the American example. The thrust for lead abatement in the US was primarily due to health concerns. It was recognized decades ago as a serious problem that affects children. (Research and documentation could fill a small library.) Issues surrounding lead were comprehensively covered by the media. Many states and affected federal agencies enacted guidelines and the schools and communities most affected were educated and informed. Private groups such as the Steel Structures Painting Council promoted lead abatement; its technical journals serve as guidelines for methods in the industry. Unions trained members specifically on lead paint abatement. Encapsulant manufacturers lobbied for standards for approvals on specific encapsulants. Moreover, a recently enacted US federal regulation requires real estate agents and owners of dwellings built before 1978 to disclose the property's lead history and the health hazards related to lead. In Canada, most of the guidelines initiated by the Steel Structures Painting Council S.S.P.C. have been adopted, and bridges and steel structures are abated using them. Upscale historical renovations account for much of the lead paint abatement in the country. And, lead dust in extreme amounts are abated, such as at shooting ranges. 

Environmental Studies; Lead pollution; Asbestos removal; 9172:Canada