MINNEAPOLIS

AS A NATIONAL nonprofit organization that has worked for years to prevent childhood lead poisoning in communities across America, CLEARCorps USA initially applauded the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show, about a Warwick house, that aired on May 4, focusing on lead as a hazard for children and families. The initial enthusiasm for seeing the program spotlight the lead issue, however, was tempered by the fact that there were glaring errors in how the show presented the situation.

The real concern beyond the errors is that American families may be misguided and even frightened about the potential problem of lead in their homes. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition had an opportunity to educate millions of people. Instead, the show demonstrated solutions that are far outside the scope of normal lead-remediation protocols established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Families with old lead paint might now believe that they will have to demolish their homes, excavate their lawns and spend countless dollars to make their homes safe when none of this is true. While it is important that the public be made aware that deteriorating paint can pose serious hazards, they must also know that paint that is intact or surfaces that have been wet-scraped and repainted can be safe for families. Similarly, lead-contaminated soil can be remediated through a number of low-cost solutions established by the EPA.

CLEARCorps is also concerned that the statement by Ty Pennington, Extreme Makeover’s host, that “lead paint can seep through 20 layers of paint” is wildly inaccurate and promotes fear and misunderstanding. In addition, those workers who demolished the Silva family’s home undertook no visible lead-safe work practices. HUD and the EPA have established protocols that will soon require the use of certified workers for such lead work; Extreme Makeover showed none of the safety measures that all workers should use.

CLEARCorps USA and other government and nonprofit entities have spent more than the past decade educating the American public about the real dangers of lead poisoning and reassuring them that there are cost-effective solutions to the problem. As a consequence of the show, families may now fear that they could lose their homes through government intervention and may be unwilling to seek the help that is readily available from many sources.

At the end of many of these shows, it has been common practice to list relevant resources for the subject at hand. It was disappointing that this was not done in the May 4 episode. CLEARCorps hopes that Extreme Makeover and ABC will correct the inaccuracies portrayed in this recent episode.

As an organization committed to lead-hazard reduction and the education of families, we applaud the show’s willingness to confront an important environmental hazard. At the same time, a nationally televised program that highlights a leaded home should use lead-safe work practices and provide accurate information to families across America. Understanding the nuances of lead requires experience and knowledge about lead.

CLEARCorps has been working on this issue for many years and stands ready and willing to work with ABC to ensure that the correct message is communicated to the viewing public: that through family education and targeted remediation of lead hazards in homes, lead issues can be addressed in a cost-effective and safe manner.

Let’s not leave the viewing public with the impression that, if there is lead in the house, tearing down the house is the only solution.

Sue Gunderson is executive director of CLEARCorps USA.