Paint products to get warning labels

As part of an agreement with dozens of attorneys general across the country, paint companies will soon be putting warning labels on their products, alerting consumers to the danger of lead exposure during home renovations.

The agreement between the National Paint & Coating Assn. and 45 states, including California, was announced last week and includes the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Paint manufacturers haven’t made house paint with lead since 1978, but it is found in many older buildings. The danger is that children will ingest or inhale lead paint dust stirred up during the repainting and renovation of older homes.

In addition to new labels on paint cans, the manufacturers also agreed to provide brochures to consumers and training courses on lead-safe renovation and repainting to homeowners, contractors, landlords and housing workers.