-------
About one in eleven children in America have
high levels of lead in their blood, according to the
Center; for Disease Control and Prevention. You
may have lead around your building without
knowing it because you can't see, taste, or smell
lead. You may have lead in the dust, paint, or soil
in and around your home, or in your drinking water
or food'. Because it does not break down naturally,
lead can remain a problem until it is removed.
Before we knew how harmful it could be, lead
was used in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many
other products. Now that we know the dangers of
lead, house paint is almost lead-free, leaded gasoline
is being phased out, and household plumbing is no
longer made with lead materials.
The long term effects of lead in a child can be
severe. They include learning disabilities, decreased
growth; hyperactivity, impaired hearing, and even
brain damage. If caught early, these effects can be
limited by reducing exposure to lead or by medical
treatment. If you are pregnant, avoid exposing your-
self to lead. Lead can pass through your body to
your baby. The good news is that there are simple
things you can do to help protect your family.
Even children who appear healthy may have high
levels of lead. You can't tell if a child has lead poi-
soning unless you have him or her tested. A blood
test takes only ten minutes, and results should be ready
within a week.
-------
your home has lead in it or if you live in an
older building.
/ Children older than one year should have a blood
test every couple of years—every year if your
house or apartment contains lead paint, or if you
use lead in your job or hobby.
-------
contain phosphates and are not effective in
cleaning lead dust.)
Wash toys and stuffed animals regularly.
Make sure your children wash their hands before
meals; nap time, and bed time.
Most homes built before 1960 contain heavily
leaded paint. Some homes built as recently as 1978
may also contain lead paint. This paint could be on
window frames, walls, the outside of your house, or
other surfaces. Tiny pieces of peeling or chipping
lead paintiare dangerous if eaten. Lead paint in
good condition is not usually a problem except in
places where painted surfaces rub against each other
and create dust. (For example, when you open a
window, the painted surfaces rub against each other.)
-------
clean up thoroughly. Don't try to remove lead
paint yourself.
All occupants, especially children and pregnant
women, should leave the building until all work
is finished and a thorough cleanup is done.
9 Don't bring lead dust Into your
If you work in construction, demolition or
painting, with batteries, or in a radiator repair shop or
lead factory, or if your hobby involves lead, you may
unlmowingly bring lead into your home on your
hands or clothes. You may also be tracking in lead
from the soil around your home. Soil very close to
homes may be contaminated from lead paint on the
outside of the building. Soil by roads or highways
may be contaminated from years of exhaust fumes
from cars and trucks that used leaded gas.
/ If you work with lead in your job or a hobby,
change your clothes before you go home.
V Encourage your children to play in sand or grassy
areas instead of dirt which sticks to fingers and
toys. Try to keep your children from eating dirt,
and* make sure they wash then: hands when they
come inside.
r
Most well or city water does not naturally
contain lead. Water usually picks up lead inside
your home from household plumbing that is made
with lead materials. Boiling the water will not
reduce the amount of lead. Bathing is not a problem
because-lead does not enter the body through the
skin. ;
/ The only way to know if you have lead in your
water is to have it tested. Call your local health
-------
department or your water supplier to see how
to get it tested. Testing your water is easy and
cheap ($15425).
/ Household water will contain more lead if it
has sat for a long time in the pipes, is hot, or
is naturally acidic.
/ If your water has not been tested or has high
levels of lead:
1) do not drink, cook, or make baby formula
with water from the hot water tap.
2) if the cold water hasn't been used for more
than two hours, run it for 30 to 60 seconds
before drinking it or using it for cooking.
3) consider buying a filter certified for lead
removal. Call EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline for more information.
A child who gets enough iron and calcium
will absorb less lead. Foods rich in iron include
eggs, lean red meat, and beans. Dairy products are
high in calcium.
/ Don't store food or liquid in lead crystal glass-
ware or imported or old pottery.
/ If you reuse plastic bags to store or carry food,
keep the printing on the outside of the bag.
-------
;. ; ;.;
Get your child
tested for lead
poisoning, even if
he or she seems
healthy.
Clean floors and
window sills with
a solution of
powdered dish-
washer detergent
and water. Most
multi-purpose
cleaners will not
remove lead hi
ordinary dust.
Reduce the risk
of lead paint.
Make sure your
child is not chew-
ing on anything
covered with lead
paint.
Don't try to
remove lead paint
yourself.
Don't bring lead
dust into your
home from work
or a hobby.
Have your water
tested. If the cold
water hasn't been
used for more
than 2 hours, let it
run for 30-60 sec-
onds before drink-
ing it or using it
for cooking.
Eat right and
don't store food
in high-lead
pottery.
children—the younger the child,, the greater the risk.
for local lirforiuatloHD. eoniaei:
WfSfs Safe Rrinking Water Hotline MatioMal Lead Information Center
(for information on laboratories certified to test (funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease
for lead in water and for filler information) Control, Dept.ofHousinga1ndUrbanDeveIopment,andDeptofDefense)
1-800-426-4791 I-9MMMJGADFCT
(except in the District of Columbia: 202-S33-4726) !
United States Environmental Protection Agency • Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics e Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
> Recycled/Recyclable—prinled with Soy/Canola Ink on paper Biat contains at least 50% recycled liber
-------
Get your child
tested for lead
poisoning, even if
he or she seems
healthy.
Clean floors and
window sills with
a solution of
powdered dish-
washer detergent
and water. Most
multi-purpose
cleaners will not
remove lead in
ordinary dust.
Reduce the risk
of lead paint.
Make sure your
child is not chew-
ing on anything
covered with lead
paint.
Don't try to
remove lead paint
yourself.
Don't bring lead
dust into your
home from work
or a hobby.
Have your water
tested. If the cold
water hasn't been
used for more
than 2 hours, let it
ruia for 30-60 sec-
onds before drink-
ing it or using it
for cooking.
Eat right and
don't store food
in high-lead
pottery.
T
-------
o ".
S
W *•••
S g
------- |