How is lead paint defined?

The definition of lead paint is specifically related to the concentration of lead contained within the paint itself. Identifying lead-based paint is crucial for health and safety regulations, particularly in relation to preventing lead poisoning, especially in children. The determination that paint contains lead is based on a measurable threshold, which is set at 1.0 mg/cm² or more of lead. This quantifiable standard helps ensure that appropriate actions can be taken to mitigate exposure risk in environments where such paint is present.

While other options point to conditions that might be common in older properties, such as peeling paint or the assumption that paint made before 1978 is automatically lead-based, these are not definitive measures. Lead can exist in paint regardless of the year it was manufactured. Additionally, lead paint can be used on various surfaces, not limited to just outdoor areas. Thus, the concentration of lead represented in option B provides the most accurate and clear definition of lead paint according to regulatory standards.