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Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
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.
Lead Gets in the Body in Many Ways
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.
Lead’s Effects
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 Likely To Be a Hazard
Lead-based paint that
is in good condition is usually not a hazard.
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.
Lead dust can form
when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms
when painted surfaces bump 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
hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house
on their shoes.
Checking Your Home for Lead Hazards
You can get your home checked
for lead hazards 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 your state lead poisoning prevention program for more information. Call
1-800-424-LEAD 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)
- Lab tests of paint samples.
- Surface dust tests.
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 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:
- 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 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.
- 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 bedtime.
- 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.
For More Information
Call 1-800-424-LEAD for other
information on lead hazards or visit
www.epa.gov/lead .
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