These days, with the public well aware of the risk that lead poses to the health of safety of young children and adults, there is less of a risk of being exposed to lead poisoning. However, the danger of lead has not been completely eliminated from our lives and there are still steps you can take to make sure that you keep you and your family safe from the risks of lead poisoning, by avoiding some of the more common ways in which you can be exposed to dangerous lead.
By following a few simple pieces of advice, you can safely avoid harmful exposure to lead and keep you and your family from experiencing the adverse health effects that can come with lead poisoning, which includes developmental and learning problems in younger children and stunted brain and nervous system development in fetuses. Lead is a dangerous substance that, although not as common as it used to be, can still cause serious problems, so make sure you check for these things when getting ready to move into a new home.
Checking for lead in paint
While most modern homes that are built today manage to stay away from using lead-based materials, homes that are 30 years old or older may have been painted with lead-based paints. If you live in an older home and have never had your walls repainted, make sure that you regularly clean your carpets and floors of any lead particles that commonly build up in old paint, especially if the paint is old and beginning to chip in places. This can also pose a danger to young children, who may come in direct contact with these paint chips and are at high risk for lead poisoning.
If your home was built before 1978, you can test the paint in your home for lead by buying a simple lead testing kit from a paint store or home improvement store. These tests only cost around $8-$10 and contain a chemical that will change color if exposed to any paint that contains lead. However, these tests can only test for the presence of lead in paint and cannot tell you exactly how much lead is in the paint or if it’s at a hazardous level. The tests also can’t test for any traceable levels of lead present in the soil around your home.
Other places to check for lead
Older homes, specifically ones built before 1990, may also contain water pipes that are susceptible to lead exposure. When turning on the cold water in your house, let it run for a few seconds before using it, to allow any lead particles that may have built up in the pipes to drain out.
The dangers of lead do not only exist in the structure of your home. They can also be found in the things that you bring into your home. Plastic that contains PVC (polyvinyl chloride) may be found in anything from children's toys to backpacks and can also contain lead. By safely disposing of these objects, as well as any candles with metallic cores in the wicks, you can help your family avoid harmful exposure to lead. These types of candles are especially risky because of the vapor given off when the candles are burned.
How to know when to check for lead
If your house was built before 1978, it’s especially important for you to check your home for lead, but there are several other reasons why you should consider making sure your home is safe and lead-free:
- If your home is located near a busy highway or freeway where gas fumes and exhaust fumes from passing cars and trucks can pollute the soil with lead.
- If there is peeling or chipping paint located anywhere in your house.
- If you have children in your home and have a backyard that contains exposed soil in areas that are close to where your children play.
- If you are planning on repainting, remodeling or renovating your home.
- If anyone in your home has had a recent blood test that indicates certain levels of lead exposure.
- If your home was built before 1950.
When buying a home, sellers are required by federal law to inform you of any known lead hazards around the home and all buyers are given 10 days to test for lead in the home. If you are renting a home, you should inquire with the landlord about any potential lead hazards in the home, especially if it is an older home, as law does not require landlords to allow renters to test for the presence of lead on their own.
Where to check for lead
These are the best places to check for lead in your home and the places most likely to be contaminated with lead:
- Window frames
- Doors and door thresholds
- Siding
- Kitchen cabinets
- Baseboards
- Soil around the foundation of the home
- Soil near any unpaved walkways or pathways
- Soil located near any roadways with frequent traffic
- Soil located near any place where your children or pets normally place