"Remember last year when you were writing your letters backwards?" said Tamara Rubin as she played with her sons.
Five years ago Rubin says her sons were poisoned by a contractor who removed lead paint from her house and didn't take safety precautions. That exposed her boys to lead fumes and dust.
"We were horrified because we thought we had hired a painter that was doing the right thing," she said.
Today, she says that AJ and Avi still suffer from immune related disorders, learning disabilities and could face permanent brain damage.
"I don't know what their future is going to be like," she said.
Her story is not unlike others, which is why the US Environmental Protection Agency is now requiring contractors to be safety certified if they "disturb" lead paint in a home where someone is pregnant, or there are kids younger than six.
"These regulations are absolutely critical for the health of children nationwide. They will protect more than a million children just in the first year alone," said Rebecca Morley, Executive Director of the National Center for Healthy Housing.
But a media survey of contractors nationwide found that not everyone is following the rules. When asked about lead paint and young children, more than a dozen painters failed to mention the new requirements. When asked if they were certified, the responses were alarming.
"There's no certification for it."
"You aren't required to be licensed."
"Huh? I'd have to look into that."
"I don't know anything about that."
When we made similar calls to local contractors one told us-
"There's no certification per say that's involved..."
"It's alarming that so many contractors are unaware of the new requirements," said Morley.
But here's the good news, most local contractors we spoke with knew exactly what we were talking about and said they were certified.
One way you can narrow your search down for a certified contractor is through the EPA's website. They have a list of contractors certified through them. That is how we found Bill Musco, owner of Complete Painting in Schenectady.
"Say it up front, just ask -are you lead certified," he said.
Musco has been working in the area for 22 years, his dad for 42. They took a class and were certified back in April.
"You have to make sure you are as dustless as possible," he said.
He says the new process takes a little more time, costs a little more, but is worth it.
"Anything that's safe is good it's just tough getting used to," he said.
Tamara Rubin agrees, urging parents to research and check out their contractors.
"It will ruin your life," he said.
The law was set to go in to effect in April, but was delayed. The EPA recently extended the amount of time contractors have to become certified to October 1st. And it has eliminated home owner's ability to opt-out of lead safe practices.
