Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil
Did you know the following facts about
lead?
FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and
babies even before they are born.
FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have
high levels of lead in their bodies.
FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing
or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.
FACT: You have many options for reducing lead
hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a
hazard.
FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can
increase the danger to your family.
If you think your home might have lead hazards,
read on to learn about lead and some simple steps to protect your family.
Health Effects of Lead
- Childhood lead poisoning remains a major
environmental health problem in the U.S.
- 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 Where Lead is
Found
*In general, the older your home, the more
likely it has lead-based paint.
Paint
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:
- 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.
- The job. If you work with lead, you could
bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before
coming home. 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. Where Lead is Likely to be a Hazard
- 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. These areas include:
- Windows and window sills.
- Doors and door frames.
- Stairs, railings, and banisters.
- Porches and fences.
Note: 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. Checking Your Family and Home for Lead
- Get your children and home tested if you
think your home has high levels of lead.
- Just knowing that a home has lead-based
paint may not tell you if there is a hazard.
To reduce your child’s exposure to lead, get
your child checked, have your home tested (especially if your home has paint
in poor condition and was built before 1978), and fix any hazards you may
have.
Your Family
- Children’s blood lead levels tend to
increase rapidly from 6 to 12 months of age, and tend to peak at 18 to
24 months of age.
- Consult your doctor for advice on testing
your children. A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead. Blood
tests are important for:
- Children at ages 1 and 2.
- Children and other family members who
have been exposed to high levels of lead.
- Children who should be tested under
your state or local health screening plan.
Your doctor can explain what the test results
mean and if more testing will be needed.
Your Home
You can get your home checked in one of two
ways, or both:
- A paint inspection tells you the lead
content of every different type of painted surface in your home. It
won't tell you whether the paint is a hazard or how you should deal with
it.
- A risk assessment tells you if there are
any sources of serious lead exposure (such as peeling paint and lead
dust). It also tells you what actions to take to address these hazards.
Have qualified professionals do the work. There
are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to
ensure the work is done safely, reliably, and effectively. Contact the
National Lead Information Center (NLIC) for a list of contacts in your area.
Trained professionals use a range of methods when checking your home,
including:
- Visual inspection of paint condition and
location.
- A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF)
machine.
- Lab tests of paint samples.
- Surface dust tests.
Note: Home test kits for lead are available, but
studies suggest that they are not always accurate. Consumers should not rely
on these tests before doing renovations or to assure safety.
What You Can do to Protect Your Family
If you suspect that your house has lead hazards,
you can take some immediate steps to reduce your family's risk:
- If you rent, notify your landlord of
peeling or chipping paint.
- Clean up paint chips immediately.
- Clean floors, window frames, window sills,
and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm
water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically
for lead.
REMEMBER: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH PRODUCTS
TOGETHER SINCE THEY CAN FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.
- Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads
after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
- Wash children's hands often, especially
before they eat and before nap time and bed time.
- Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles,
pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
- Keep children from chewing window sills or
other painted surfaces.
- Clean or remove shoes before entering your
home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
- Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat
meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products.
Children with good diets absorb less lead.
In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good
nutrition you can temporarily reduce lead hazards by taking actions such as
repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover soil with
high lead levels. These actions (called "interim controls") are
not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention. To permanently
remove lead hazards, you must hire a certified lead "abatement"
contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include
removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials.
Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not enough. Always hire
a person with special training for correcting lead problems--someone who
knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up
thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow
strict safety rules set by their state or the federal government. Contact
the National Lead Information Center(NLIC) for help with locating certified
contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.
Are You Planning to Buy or Rent a Home
Built Before 1978?
Many houses and apartments built before 1978
have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint,
chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of
properly. Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information
before renting or buying a pre-1978 housing:
- Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
Program
- LANDLORDS have to disclose known
information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before
leases take effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about
lead-based paint.
- SELLERS have to disclose known
information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before
selling a house. Sales contracts must include a disclosure form
about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead
hazards.
*If not conducted properly, certain types of
renovations can release lead from paint and dust into the air.
Many houses and apartments built before 1978
have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint,
chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of
properly. Federal law requires that contractors provide lead information to
residents before renovating a pre-1978 housing:
- Pre-Renovation Education Program (PRE)
- RENOVATORS have to give you a pamphlet
titled “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”, before
starting work.
- Take precautions before your contractor or
you begin remodeling or renovations that disturb painted surfaces (such
as scraping off paint or tearing out walls):
- Have the area tested for lead-based
paint.
- Do not use a belt-sander, propane
torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper to remove lead-based
paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and fumes.
- Lead dust can remain in your home long
after the work is done.
- Temporarily move your family
(especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or
house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If
you can't move your family, at least completely seal off the work
area.
- If you have already completed
renovations or remodeling that could have released lead-based paint
or dust, get your young children tested and follow the steps
outlined to protect your family.