The College is continuing ongoing inspections into lead levels in the faculty apartments.
So far, one-third of the units have been tested and inspectors have found lead levels exceeding state standards in some of the units.
Woody Simonds, the College's real estate manager, said specific figures about the number of units affected and their lead levels are not available.
The College's rental housing office launched a program last August in conjunction with the College's department of environmental health and safety to inspect faculty housing for lead.
The testing "was initiated because it is becoming an issue. To be proactive, we started in September to sample," said Brenda Freeland, a College environmental health and safety officer.
The College owns a number of apartments on or close to the campus that it rents to faculty members and administrators.
Prasad Jayanti, a computer science professor, resides in one of the units on North Park Street. Jayanti has a two-year old daughter.
He said his unit was tested and was found to have above standard lead levels.
"Rental housing sent us letters saying that they would send people to test for lead and then they sent us another one informing us of lead levels higher than the federal standards," Jayanti said.
"They told us if we saw any peeling paint that we should let them know so they can repaint the area. We are of course making sure of this and are taking care of our child," Jayanti said.
Jayanti is also thinking of relocating in the area.
"We are considering moving out of College rental housing, and [the lead] is one of the main reasons," Jayanti said.
Landlords are not mandated by local or state laws to test units for lead.
Lou Ann Speikers, who works for the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, said landlords are only required by law to test lead levels when there is a child with a documented case of lead poisoning above a certain level.
"If it is a child of a homeowner, he or she is notified of the hazard and given a letter of recommendation," Speikers said. "If the person is a renter, and we find hazards, the state can mandate an order for the landlord ... to make it lead-safe, but not lead-free."
Simonds said the College decided to inspect its housing even though no cases of lead poisoning had been reported.
"Rather than wait for a case of lead poisoning, we have taken a proactive role. The way the law is written is reactive," Simonds said.
The rental housing office sent out letters last August inviting tenants and College administrators to an information session telling them about the testing.
The office hired Corvino Environmental Consultants, a Massachusetts-based firm, to conduct the actual inspections.
Tenants that have children were given priority in the testing and were notified promptly by the rental housing office if the lead in their units exceeded state standards, Simonds said.
"When it is identified, we begin stabilization. Painters are sent to repaint and remove chips if necessary," Simonds said. "The tenants have been cooperative with the testing program. There has been enough education out there and they are well-informed."
Lead-based paints were outlawed in the 1970s, but many New Hampshire homes still have surfaces painted with lead-based paints, according to a state lead poisoning prevention booklet.
Lead is especially dangerous for children under 6 years of age and can slow a child's development and cause learning and behavioral problems because their brains are still developing, the booklet states.
To prevent a child from being exposed, the prevention booklet recommends removing all loose, chipping or flaking paint that a child may put in its mouth and washing a child's hands and toys frequently.
