Lead Contamination Assessment
Dust-wipe and soil sampling to measure lead contamination and verify a property is safe for occupancy.
Lead hazards don't stop at the painted surface. Lead dust from deteriorating or disturbed paint settles on floors, window sills, and soil — where children encounter it through everyday hand-to-mouth contact. Contaminated bare soil around older homes and former industrial corridors is one of the most overlooked exposure pathways in Southern California.
A lead contamination assessment measures the hazard directly. We collect dust-wipe samples from interior surfaces and soil samples from the property exterior, have them analyzed by an accredited laboratory, and compare results against federal and California hazard standards — giving you a definitive answer on whether the property is lead-safe.
Why this testing matters
Verify clearance after work
After renovation or abatement in an older home, dust-wipe sampling verifies the space is actually safe to reoccupy — not just visually clean.
The dust you can't see
Hazardous lead dust levels are invisible. A surface can look spotless and still exceed federal dust-lead hazard standards.
Soil exposure
Decades of exterior paint weathering and legacy leaded-gasoline fallout leave lead in bare soil where children play and pets track it indoors.
Real estate confidence
Buyers of older homes gain hard data on lead hazards before closing, not assumptions.
Tenant safety & liability
Documented assessment protects rental owners and gives tenants confidence the property is safe for their families.
Certified professionals
Sampling follows CDPH and HUD protocols, so results are defensible for agencies, programs, and legal purposes.
What's included
- Dust-wipe sampling of floors, sills, and window wells
- Exterior bare-soil sampling where applicable
- Accredited laboratory analysis
- Comparison against EPA/HUD and California hazard standards
- Room-by-room results table
- Written assessment with clear pass/fail findings and guidance
Our process
- 1
Assessment planning
We review the property's history — age, renovation work, known paint condition — and design a sampling plan that targets the highest-risk surfaces and areas.
- 2
Sample collection
Dust wipes and soil samples are collected following HUD/CDPH protocols with full chain-of-custody documentation.
- 3
Laboratory analysis
An accredited laboratory quantifies lead loading in each sample against regulatory hazard standards.
- 4
Findings & recommendations
You receive a clear report showing exactly which locations, if any, exceed hazard levels — with practical steps for cleanup, soil cover, or further evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from paint testing?
Paint testing finds where lead-based paint exists. A contamination assessment measures the actual hazard — lead in settled dust and soil — which is what determines whether occupants are being exposed right now.
When is this most commonly needed?
After renovation or abatement work in pre-1978 homes, when moving into an older home with young children, after a child's elevated blood-lead test, or when bare soil at an older property is being converted to play or garden space.
What if results exceed hazard levels?
Most dust hazards are resolved with specialized cleaning followed by re-testing; soil hazards are commonly addressed with covering or removal. Your report prioritizes exactly what needs attention.