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Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most at risk, because their bodies are growing quickly.
Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are:
- deteriorating lead-based paint,
- lead contaminated dust, and
- lead contaminated residential soil.
Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. One can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead. However, in most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard and removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger of health effects.
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Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States and several other countries. Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies.
People can get lead in their body if they:
Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths.
Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
Breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces).
Lead is even more dangerous to children than adults because:
Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from:
Damage to the brain and nervous system
Behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity)
Slowed growth
Hearing problems
Headaches
Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:
Difficulties during pregnancy
Other reproductive problems (in both men and women)
High blood pressure
Digestive problems
Nerve disorders
Memory and concentration problems
Muscle and joint pain
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In general, the older one's home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. Lead may be found in the following:
Paint. In the United States many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found in homes in the city, country, or suburbs; in apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing; inside and outside of the house.
In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)
Household dust. (Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.)
Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it, the US Federal Government suggests you use only cold water for drinking and cooking; run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
At workplaces. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. The US Federal Government suggests you shower and change clothes before coming home and launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family's clothes.
Old painted toys and furniture.
Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.
Folk remedies that contain lead, such as "greta" and "azarcon" used to treat an upset stomach.
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Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, can be serious hazards.
Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as Windows and window sills; Doors and door frames; Stairs, railings, and banisters; Porches and fences. Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. United States residents may contatct the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) to find out about testing soil for lead.
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