United States      EPA 747-F-99-005A
     Environmental Protection  August 1999
     Agency
     Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (7404)
vvEPA
Runs better

   unleaded
   How to Protect Your Children
      from Lead Poisoning
          --
         UEAD
          Awareness
          Program

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       Do you  know
       that  lead poisoning
can pose  a serious risk
   to your child's health?
Lead is a toxic substance that may be present
in dust, paint, soil, and drinking water. When
ingested or inhaled as dust, lead poses a seri-
ous health risk to young
children. Low levels of
lead exposure can cause
nervous system and kidney damage, learning
disabilities, poor muscle coordination, slower
growth, hearing losses,  and also speech,
language,  and behavior problems. While low-
level exposure is most common, exposure to
high levels can have devastating effects including
seizures, unconsciousness, and even death.
          *»
       .
The Cenfcrs for Disease Control ancj
Prevention estimate Jhat I in II American
             •"
children has high levels  of leac^in their blood.

 Fortunately, there are simple ways to assess
                                  •;
 lead risks and protect your child's health.
 If you live in a home built before 1978,
 keep reading for more information!

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                hat are the
         common sources off
     dangerous  lead?
               Lead  is still prevalent in
                 housing built before
                    1978, and poses risks
                     in the form of lead-
                       based paint, lead-
                         contaminated
                    dust, lead-contami-
              nated soil,  and older plumb-
ing fixtures made with lead. Before we knew
how harmful lead could be, it was used in
paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many
other products. Now we
know the dangers of lead
poisoning and have
banned or limit-
ed the use of
lead in these
products. However,
this has not
eliminated the risk.

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w.
       hen are these    .
             sources  hazardous?
                                 .
Lead-based paint is a hazard if it's peeling,
    chipping, chalking, or cracking. Even lead?
    based paint that appears to be undis-
    turbed can be a problem if it covers sur-
    faces that children may chew or that get a/
    lot of wear and tear such as windows,
    windowsills, doors, stairs, railings, banis-
    ters, porches, and fences.
           •
Dust can become contaminated with lead
    when lead-based paint is dry-scraped or
    sanded. Dust can also become contami-
    nated when older painted surfaces bump
    or rub together. Lead chips and dust can
    gather on surfaces and objects that
    people  touch or that children put into
    their mouths.

Soil can become contaminated by flaking or
    peeling  lead-based paint on older build-
    ings. Soil near roadways may also be con-
    taminated by past use of leaded gasoline
    in cars. Avoid these areas when planting
    vegetable gardens.

Lead can leach into the water at any temper-
    ature, but the amount of lead can be much
    greater when the water is hot or warm.
    Don't drink or cook with water from the
    "hot"  faucet if you live in an older home or
    think you have lead plumbing fixtures.

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  F.
    ollow these steps  to

protect your

       children's health.

 Get your child and your home tested if you live
 in a home built before 1978. Children who have
 high blood levels of lead may appear healthy.

 Clean up paint chips using a wet sponge or rag.
 Completely rinse sponges and mop heads after
 cleaning dirty or dusty areas.

 Avoid exposure to harmful lead dust. Hire a pro-
 fessional to remove lead-based paint, or when
 renovating or remodeling—don't do it yourself.


 Use cold tap water for drinking or cooking
 since lead is more likely to leach into warm or
 hot water. Run tap water for 15-30 seconds
 (or until  it feels much colder on your hand)
 before drinking it.

 Clean or remove shoes before entering your
 home to  avoid tracking in lead-contaminated soil.
 Make sure children wash their hands after
 playing outside and before eating or going to
 bed. Have children play in grassy areas instead
 of bare soil.

 Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers,
 toys, and stuffed animals regularly. Keep your
 home clean by washing floors and window
 sills weekly.

 Keep children from chewing on painted surfaces,
 such as windowsills, cribs, or playpens or from
 playing near painted surfaces that rub together.


 Make sure your family eats a well-balanced
 diet low in fat and high in calcium and iron to
 reduce absorption of lead into the body.


If you rent property, tell your landlord about
peeling or chipping paint.

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oEPA
  United States
  Environmental Protection Agency
  (7404)
  Washington, DC 20460
  Official Business
  Penalty for Private Use
  $300
For more information about preventing lead poisoning, call the
National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD or visit www.epa.gov/lead.

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