My landlord performed what he called as a lead abatement in my apartment after the Department of Health issued several violation for the presence of lead based paint and dust on a window sill and window well in our living room. He removed both windows and enclosures. I saw him vacuum the carpet after they were done with a regular Hoover vacuum that you can buy at any appliance store for household use. Is that sufficient?

The short answer is no. In order to properly clean up after the dispersal of lead contaminated dust has likely been spread in an apartment, several things have to be done. The use of a Hoover vacuum cleaner likely further spreads the hazard. What must be used is a HEPA-vacuum. Under 28 R.C.N.Y. 11-02 a HEPA-vacuum is defined as a “vacuum cleaner device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air filter capable of filtering out monodispersive particles of 0.3 microns or greater in diameter from a body of air at 99.97 percent efficiency or greater”.  When an abatement fails to follow the law, the risk of dispersal of the hazardous lead contaminated dust is increased.