CLEVELAND — Lead poisoning is an issue that affects many Northeast Ohio families. The toxic substance can be a danger to many properties, and the fight to rid older properties of its traces has ramped up in recent years thanks to the passing of a 2019 law which requires landlords to secure lead-safe certificates for their structures.
Wise Space Consulting, led by Carolyn Swoope, is one of the private companies that homeowners and landlords can hire to help test and rid homes of lead.
"I've been in real estate since 1987," Swoope told us. "I decided to do lead sampling because it's another ancillary service that I can offer to my clients, and I learned how there was such a disparity in the numbers in our communities, so I [can] use this to help my community as much as I can."
Lead was used in paint before a national ban went info effect in 1978. Remaining paint chips and dust in older homes can result in lead poisoning, particularly among children.
"Here in Ohio, we're a pretty old state, [and Cuyahoga is] definitely an old county," Swoope said. "Eighty-seven percent of our properties were built before 1940."
By March 2023, all rentals in Cleveland constructed before 1978 must be certified with the city as lead safe.
"In order for them to be compliant with the law, they have to get a certification from someone like myself that can go in and test and verify that there is no lead here," Swoope explained.
In addition to testing, Carolyn also trains property owners to identify and be knowledgeable about lead for themselves.
"We provide education so people can understand why there's a mandate with the state and understand what these can do to your children and maybe yourself," she said. "Our No. 1 concern is saving as many children right now as we can."