Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home

 If you are planning to buy, rent or renovate a home build before 1978, you may need to check to see if there is any lead present.

 Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains high levels of 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, buying or renovating pre-1978 housing. 

If you want more information on these requirements, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (424-5323).

Where Lead- Based Paint is Found

 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: 

ü      In homes in the city, country, or suburbs

ü     In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing.

ü      Inside and outside of the house.

ü     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.

                   Checking Your Family for Lead

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.

 Identifying Lead Hazards 

Deteriorating lead- based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged) is a hazard and needs immediate attention. It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and- tear, such as: 

ü      Windows and window sills.

ü      Doors and door frames.

ü      Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches. 

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.   The only way to find out if paint, dust, or soil lead hazards exist is to test for them.

What You Can Do Now 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: 

ü     If you rent, notify your landlord or peeling or chipping paint.

ü      Clean up paint chips immediately.

ü     Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge 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.

ü     Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.

ü     Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time.

ü     Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.

ü     Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.  

Remodeling or Renovating a Home With Lead- Based Paint

Take precautions before your contractor you begin remodeling or renovating anything that disturbs painted surfaces (such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls):

ü      Have the area tested for lead-based paint.

ü     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. 

If not conducted properly, certain types of renovations can release lead from paint and dust into the air.  

Other Sources of Lead 

ü     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. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:

o    Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.

o    Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.

ü     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.

ü      Old painted toys and furniture.

ü     Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead- glazed pottery or porcelain.

ü     Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.   

Simple Steps to Protect Your Family From Lead Hazards 

            If you think you home has high levels of lead: 

ü     Get your young children tested for lead, even if they seem healthy.

ü      Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.

ü      Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods.

ü      Get your home checked for lead hazards.

ü      Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.

ü      Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.

ü     Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.

ü     Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-LEAD for guidelines). 

ü      Don’t use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.

 ü      Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself.

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