Lead Assessments

Above Environmental offers lead testing services for residential, commercial, and public buildings, with particular attention to properties built before 1978. Our work helps owners, buyers, and property managers understand whether lead may be present and how it could affect renovation plans, occupancy, or regulatory compliance.

Testing may include paint or dust sampling, depending on the age and use of the building and the specific concerns involved. Sampling locations and methods are selected to answer practical questions while minimizing unnecessary disruption.

Findings are presented in a clear, straightforward report that explains what was tested, what was found, and what it may mean moving forward. As an independent testing firm, we do not perform lead abatement, allowing us to provide objective results and unbiased guidance.

Contact Us: (503) 622-9133

Lead: Did You Know?

  1. Lead was prized because it’s easy to work with
    Lead is soft, flexible, and resists corrosion, which made it ideal for pipes, paint, roofing, and fuel additives long before its health risks were understood.

  2. The word “plumbing” comes from lead
    The Latin word plumbum means lead, and Roman water systems relied heavily on lead pipes—some of which are still in place today.

  3. Lead paint wasn’t banned in U.S. homes until 1978
    Homes built before then may still contain lead-based paint under newer layers, especially on windows, doors, trim, and exterior surfaces.

  4. Lead doesn’t break down over time
    Unlike many contaminants, lead is an element—it doesn’t degrade or disappear. Once it’s in paint, soil, or dust, it remains unless it’s removed or properly contained.

  5. Dust is often a bigger exposure risk than paint chips
    Lead exposure frequently comes from microscopic dust created by friction (like opening painted windows) or renovation work, not from visibly peeling paint.

  6. Lead was added to gasoline for decades
    Tetraethyl lead was used to reduce engine knocking until it was phased out in the U.S. in the 1970s–90s. As a result, soil near older roads and buildings can still contain elevated lead levels today.

  7. Lead paint is often safest when left intact

    Lead-based paint that is in good condition and sealed on walls is generally not a significant exposure risk. Problems most often arise when painted surfaces are disturbed—through renovation, sanding, drilling, friction on doors or windows, or deterioration that creates lead-contaminated dust.