Lead Hazard: Rhode Island Landlord Faces over $400,000 Fine for Lead Law Violation

A Rhode Island company faces fines of $421,900 for failing to notify tenants about potential lead hazards in the residential property being leased. The company was charged for repeatedly violating federal lead-based paint disclosure laws and regulations.

According to the EPA, the company failed to notify tenants about the potential lead-paint hazards in the houses being leased, as required by the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 and the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule. The complaint declares 61 violations related to 16 leases signed between 2009 and 2011. Eight of the leases include families with young children who are susceptible to the affects of lead exposure.

Under the Disclosure Rule, landlords are required to provide prospective tenants with lead hazard information pamphlets and lead warning statements, as well as alerting them to the presence of known lead-based paint and paint hazards on the property.

Lead exposure can cause serious health problems, and even a small amount of exposure can reduce IQ, increase learning disabilities, increase risk for attention disorders, impair hearing, and create hyperactivity and behavior problems. Infants and young children are at a higher risk to lead exposure.

Lead contamination in New England is of high concern due to the age of the houses.

“EMSL Analytical helps companies and individuals determine whether lead levels are within legal limits,” states Shannon Kauffman, Metals Laboratory Supervisor. “We offer scientifically and legally defensible lead testing at our many locations throughout the Northeast.”

For more information on EMSL’s testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com, or email  info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies. Please see our website for a complete listing of accreditations.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com