ma mm
(A mystery regarding the dangers of lead.)
Authored by David Anderson
Music and lyrics by Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Music arrangement and keyboards by Jay Kellner
vocals by Shannon Duraski, Scott Gilchrist,
Megan Luke, Rebecca Melisi, and Doug Thompson
Poster by Bob Provost
Produced by Studio 2
Joan Maute Project Coordinator and Editor
This project was completed in collaboration with the University of
Illinois-Chicago School of Public Health, Babette J. Neuberger liaison.
"This material is authorized for local reproduction. Although the
information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance
agreement #X995463-01 to University of Illinois-Chicago School of
Public Health, it has not been subjected to the Agency's publications
review process and therefore, may not reflect the views of the Agency and
no official endorsement should be inferred."

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-f-M L£AV wtsvsmmM
(A mystery regarding the dangers of lead.)
Authored by David Anderson
Music and lyrics by Joan Maute, Ed.D.
Music arrangement and keyboards by Jay Kellner
vocals by Shannon Duraski, Scott Gilchrist,
Megan Luke, Rebecca Melisi, and Doug Thompson
Poster by Bob Provost
Produced by Studio 2
Joan Maute Project Coordinator and Editor
This project was completed in collaboration with the University of
Illinois-Chicago School of Public Health, Babette J. Neuberger liaison.
"This material is authorized for local reproduction. Although the
information in this document has been, funded wholly or . in part by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance
agreement #X995463-01 to University of Illinois-Chicago School of
Public Health, it has not been subjected to the Agency's publications
review process and therefore, may not reflect the views of the Agency and
no official endorsement should be inferred."

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Introduction
The Lead Detectors is intended to be listened to and/or performed by
middle school students. It is a companion to Let's Get The Lead Out, an
integrated learning unit on the dangers of lead. The curriculum, radio
script, audio-tape, and a colorful poster are available free of charge from
the U.S. EPA (see address below). Middle school students can take this
very important information to local elementary school classes, day care
centers, community centers, or parent-night meetings via a performance.
The radio mystery/readers' theatre format allows the students to perform
without scenery, props, costumes, or memorizing lines. The songs may be
played from the tape using the recorded student voices, or performed by
students using the musical accompaniment on side B. After the
performance it would be very appropriate for the readers and/or singers
to ask the audience for signs and dangers of lead poisoning and some
preventative measures that can be taken to be "lead free."
You have permission to copy this unit for classroom/school use. For a
copy of Let's Get the Lead Out please contact
U.S. EPA
attn: Publications
77 W. Jackson (P-19J)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
or in the Midwest, call: 1-800-621-8431

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Get the Lead Out
CAST OF CHARACTERS
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 2:
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 4:
CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
JO:
SPOT:
PROFESSOR:
Serves as one of the announcers of the story
Serves as one of the announcers of the story
Serves as one of the announcers of the story
Serves as one of the announcers of the story
One of the three Lead Detectors, a detective searching out the bad
effects of lead
Another of the three Lead Detectors, a detective searching out the bad
effects of lead
Another of the three Lead Detectors, a detective searching out the bad
effects of lead
The older of the two siblings who ask the Lead Detectors for help.
The younger of the two siblings who ask the Lead Detectors for help.
The pet of Billie and Jo
Professor Plumbum, author of the book, Detecting and Correcting Uses
of Lead, exists to quote lines of his book as the Lead Detectors consult
him as a reference.

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Get the Lead Out
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 2:
NARRATOR 3:
You better watch out!
It could be in the water!
(sound of gurgling water)
On the walls!
(sound of knocking)
NARRATOR 4: In the air
NARRATORS 1-4: Whoosh!
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 4:
NARRATOR 2:
ALL:
In the pipes
(sound of clanging pipes)
In the cans
(sound of cans together)
In the glass
(glasses knocking together)
In the paper
(paper ripping)
So you better be careful
NARRATORS 1 & 2: How you breathe
NARRATORS 3 & 4: What you swallow!
NARRATOR 1: Lead could be
ALL:	Everywhere!
NARRATOR 2: You need to call
ALL:
The Lead Detectors!!!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 4:
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 2:
ALL:
The Lead Awareness Broadcasting System and [insert name of group]
Take great pleasure
In bringing you
Another transcribed adventure of
The Lead Detectors!
NARRATOR 4: Starring:
CHRIS:	Chris Wee
SAM:
Sam Findet
FREDDY:
NARRATOR 3:
And Freddy Goode
Of the Lead Detective Agency:
CHRIS/SAM/FREDDY: Wee, Findet, and Goode
NARRATOR 1: This week's episode is entitled:
Get the Lead Out
ALL:
NARRATOR 2:
NARRATOR 4:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
SAM:
BILLIE:
JO:
CHRIS:
ALL THREE:
On one dreary afternoon in the offices of the Lead Detectors,
A timid knock is heard on the front door
(knocking sound)
Come in.
Ah, it's two kids and their dog!
What can we do for you?
Hello.
We have a mystery for you to solve.
A mystery?
That's our job!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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3
BILLIE:
Our dog, Spot,
SPOT:
Woof!
JO:
Has been acting really strange lately.
FREDDY:
What has he been doing?
BILLIE:
He hasn't been hungry.
SPOT:
(makes sad dog sounds)
JO:
He's been irritable
SPOT:
(slight groan)
BILLIE:
He doesn't play anymore.
SPOT:
(little yip)
JO:
He even bit the mailman.
SPOT:
(slight growl)
BILLIE:
And all he does is sleeps all day!
SPOT:
(falls asleep and snores)
BILLIE/JO BOTH:
We want our old spot back!
SAM:
Sounds like it could be a serious case of lead poisoning to me.
CHRIS:
Could you show us an example?
BILLIE:
Okay. Jo, wake up Spot there.
JO:
Wake up, Spot.
ALL:
Wake up!
SPOT:
Woof! (sleepily)
BILLIE:
Here, Spot, catch this ball.
SPOT:
Woof! Woof! (getting more excited)
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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JO:
BILLIE:
ALL:
SPOT:
ALL:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
SPOT:
JO:
BILLIE:
SPOT:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
Watch this.
Here you go!
Catch it, Spot!
Ow!
Oh!
He missed it!
It hit him right on the nose.
Ow!
He used to be able to catch that ball all the time.
Now he just wants to sleep all day.
(snoring again)
And Jo and I have been acting strange, too!
We always get in fights now.
No, we don't!
Yes, we do!
We don't!
Do!
Don't!
Do too!
Don't too! (if more humor is desired, a fake spitting at each other could
be continued here)
Hey!
Both of you
Are irritable!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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BILLIE/JO:
JO:
SAM:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
SAM:
BILLIE:
Sorry!
Can you help all three of us?
Sure thing, kid!
Okay, tell us, what have you done differently lately?
Well, we've gone to a different school.
But Spot doesn't go to school with us.
And Jo is getting a D in English.
Really, I was getting a B at my last school!
Hmmm, why have you changed schools?
Because we moved to a new neighborhood.
FREDDY/CHRIS/SAM: Ah!
CHRIS:
JO:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
SAM:
CHRIS/FREDDY:
ALL THREE:
NARRATOR 1:
JO:
BILLIE:
NARRATOR 2:
SPOT:
And you moved into a new home?
That's right!
How old is your house?
I don't know. But my parents had to paint all the dirty walls.
Sounds like we better check out your home.
That's right!
"Lead" us to your home!
So our brave detective trio follow
Jo
Billie
and their dog Spot
Woof! (sleepily)
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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NARRATOR 3:
To their home to solve
NARRATOR 4: The mystery of the House of Lead!
(During this, the group members could act like they are riding in a car.)
[Possible place for a commercial or a song.]
NARRATOR 1: As the Lead Detectors pull up to the mysterious
NARRATORS 1-4: House of Lead
NARRATOR 2:
CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
CHRIS:
ALL THREE:
JO:
FREDDY:
CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
CHRIS:
CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
They immediately notice that the front door has
A stained glass window.
A rare specimen
Most definitely made over 40 years ago
And put together with
LEAD.
Is that bad?
Well, lead has many good uses.
It is an easily bendable metal that can protect people from x-rays and
other harmful radiation.
Because it's so soft, it has good uses, such as
Tin cans
And batteries
And sinkers for fishing lines
And stained glass!
But it can also be negative if people get lead into their bodies.
Like being filled full of lead bullets?
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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CHRIS:
SAM:
FREDDY:
GROUP:
GROUP:
JO:
ALL:
SAM:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
SAM:
CHRIS:
ALL:
SAM:
FREDDY:
CHRIS:
SAM:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
JO:
Well, bullets are made out of lead!
But we're talking about other ways of getting lead in your body.
People can get lead in their bodies by
Breathing lead
And swallowing lead.
I would never eat lead!
Yuck!
Well, Jo, you may not know that you're eating it.
And once lead is in your body, it is a toxic substance that can
Make you very sick,
Like Spot is feeling?
And it's making us so irri-, irri-
Irritable! No wonder you're getting a D in English!
That's right. It could be the cause.
And it takes a long time
To get the lead out
Of your body!
And because your house is over forty years old,
According to the age of the stained glass window,
Your house could be full of lead hiding in all places!
Just like this stained glass window is being held together by lead
Lead could be used in other places in your house as well.
And hurt poor Spot!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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8
BILLIE:
JO:
SAM:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
JO:
FREDDY:
SAM:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
ALL THREE:
SAM:
FREDDY:
And us too!
So, that explains my bad grade in English!
Let's start with where your dog eats.
Okay, here's where we give Spot fresh water and good food.
Let's examine the dog's bowls more closely.
My grandmother brought those back from her vacation.
Hmmmm, a nice ceramic bowl with a clear glaze.
Let's turn it over.
(sound of splashing water)
Hey, these are new shoes!
See,
Made in Mexico!
Let's consult Professor Plumbum's book of "Detecting and Correcting
Uses of Lead."
Here it is, according to the professor...
PROFESSOR [as a separate voice giving advice]: Many dishes made out of ceramic,
especially made in foreign countries, can contain lead. Some dishes
may even have a glaze made out of lead.
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
CHRIS:
So Spot could be getting lead in his system by eating out of these
dishes.
Billie, didn't grandma give us the same type of glasses with our names
on them?
That's right!
What do we do?
Simple, just replace these ceramic dishes with a dish that you know
doesn't contain lead,
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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SAM:
CHRIS:
JO:
FREDDY:
CHRIS:
BILLIE:
JO:
GROUP:
GROUP:
ALL
SAM:
Such as stainless steel for Spot.
And glass or plastic for you two!
Will we all be better then?
Well, let's examine this house more closely.
Look at what is placed under the dishes.
Yeah, it's the Sunday's funnies.
Mom doesn't like Spot to get food and water all over her
Clean
Kitchen
Floor.
Yes, but the professor has a good piece of information about colored
newsprint.
PROFESSOR [continuing]: "Some colored inks, including those used on newsprint,
contain lead."
BILLIE:
JO:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
JO:
SAM:
PROFESSOR:
JO:
FREDDY:
Wow! I didn't know that.
So, when Spot is being a good dog to clean up his food,
He could be picking up the lead from the ink on the newspaper.
That's easy! We won't put colored newspaper on the floor anymore.
And don't let the dog chew any funnies!
Not even my Spiderman comics books!
And the professor even advises that
"Children should wash their hands after they have touched comics or
comics books."
I never knew that Spiderman could be so dangerous!
Next, we need to examine the water in this house.
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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10
CHRIS:
SAM:
BILLIE/JO:
BILLIE:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
SAM:
CHRIS:
JO:
FREDDY:
SAM:
ALL THREE:
CHRIS:
PROFESSOR:
FREDDY:
JO:
BILLIE:
SAM:
CHRIS:
JO:
FREDDY:
Sam, do you have your handy dandy test kit for water.
I sure do, and it says that the water does contain high levels of lead.
Oh, no!
What do we do?
Let's look in your basement.
Okay, right down here.
Look at these pipes,
Even though they are made of copper,
Like pennies?
Yes, but the pipes are put together
Or soldered
With lead!
According to the professor:
Lead was used as a common method for putting together the joints in
pipes and in tin cans.
So, when the water sits in your pipes, the water gets high levels of lead
in it.
And I thought that only Colonel Mustard got hurt by lead pipes!
How can we solve this problem? My parents can't afford to put whole
new pipes in the house.
There are many solutions:
Only use cold water for drinking or eating purposes
Why is that?
Hot water pipes will more likely dissolve the lead into the water.
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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SAM:
BILLIE:
SPOT:
JO:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
JO:
SAM:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
JO:
BILLIE:
SAM:
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
SAM:
PROFESSOR:
SAM:
GROUP:
CHRIS:
11
And let the water run for a few seconds to clear out the old water before
you fill your dog's bowl.
Or we could give Spot only pop to drink!
Woof!
For us too!
No, but you could use bottled water
Or filter the water you have.
Those sound like good solutions!
We must be more careful what we drink!
And if this an old house, there's a good chance that we have to be
careful with the walls.
Really?
Has Spot been chewing on any of the walls or eating paint chips?
The window sill!
Here, look at this!
Looks like teeth marks.
This could be deadly!
I know. Dad almost killed Spot when he saw that!
No, Freddy means that many painted objects can be deadly.
Professor Plumbum has written that. . .
Many old paints used to contain high amounts of lead in them. And lead
can be ingested in the body . . .
Through eating paint chips
Yuck!
Rubbing against painted surfaces.
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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12
FREDDY:
BILLIE:
JO:
BILLIE:
JO:
SAM:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
ALL:
SAM:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
SAM:
BILLIE:
CHRIS:
FREDDY:
SAM:
BILLIE:
GROUP:
JO:
CHRIS:
Or breathing dust from painted surfaces.
Wow, so that could explain Spot being so sluggish and irritable.
And we could be breathing the dust too!
Which is why we have been so IRRITABLE Jo!
What do we do?
Have your house's paint inspected.
There are professionals who can take care of the lead paint.
And don't ever chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips.
Yuck!!!
And make sure mom or dad cleans the floors, window frames, window
sills, and other surfaces weekly
With warm water and a general all purpose cleaner.
Also, you children should wash your hands often,
Especially before you eat and before nap or bed time.
We're too old for naps!
But your baby sister isn't.
And mom or dad should keep your baby sister's play area clean by
washing her bottles, pacifier, toys and stuffed animals often.
If you take care of all these things, your dog and the both of you should
be better in no time.
And can we do anything to
Get the lead out
Of us?
It's a good idea to eat food with lots of calcium and iron
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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13
SAM:	That should help chase out that lead very soon!
JO/BILLIE:	Thanks, Lead Detectors.
CHRIS/SAM/FREDDY: Anytime, kids!
NARRATOR 1: And the Lead Detectors leave Billie, Jo, and Spot
NARRATOR 2: To take care of the house of lead.
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 4:
NARRATOR 2:
Soon to be unleaded!
And remember kids,
Be sure to
NARRATORS 1-4: Get the lead out!
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 4:
GROUP:
NARRATOR 2:
GROUP:
NARRATOR 1:
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 2:
NARRATOR 4:
GROUP:
NARRATOR 3:
NARRATOR 2:
JO:
By being good lead detectors in your own houses.
And eat foods rich in calcium and iron.
Like Milk,
Hmmmm
Yogurt
Yum
Cheese
And vegetables,
And fruits
And meats
And fish!
So that you can be healthy
And free of lead
And your dog too!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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14
BILLIE:
Catch, Spot!
SPOT:
Woof!!
GROUP:
Great catch/
SPOT:
(muffled, as with ball in mouth) WOOF!
SAM:
Sign Spot up with the Cubs!
BILLIE:
I love my dog and Jo too!
JO:
I love you too Billie!
CHRIS:
Friends again!
SAM:
Doesn't it make you feel good to see such lead-free kids!
JO:
And I'm getting an A in English now!
NARRATOR 1:
Stay tuned for another
NARRATOR 4:
Exciting
NARRATOR 3:
Transcribed
NARRATOR 2:
Adventure of. . .
ALL:
The Lead Detectors!
Printed 12:03 PM on 7/28/97

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Lead Rap
words and music by Joan Maute
We're the lead detectors and we're here to help you
'Cause keepin' you lead free is a thing we can do.
Lead can creep into your life and into your world.
It doesn't care if you're a boy or a girl.
So listen to us; hear what we're talkin' about
And together we'll keep or get the lead out!
get it out	keep it out	get it out	keep it out
It can be in water comin' out of lead in pipes too;
It can be in paints and crayons things that little kids chew.
We're the lead detectors and we're here to help you
'Cause keepin' you lead free is a thing we can do.
Lead can creep into your life and into your world.
It doesn't care if you're a boy or a girl.
So listen to us; hear what we're talkin' about
And together we'll keep or get the lead out!
get it out	keep it out	get it out	keep it out
You know air can get polluted from lead fumes or lead dust;
It can make you sick or cranky if you breathe it too much.
We're the lead detectors and we're here to help you
'Cause keepin' you lead free is a thing we can do.
Lead can creep into your life and into your world
It doesn't care if you're a boy or a girl.
So listen to us; hear what we're talkin' about
And together we'll keep or get the lead out!
get it out	keep it out	get it out	keep it out
If lead gets in your body it gets in your bloodstream;
It travels through your systems gives you lead poisoning.
We're the lead detectors and we're here to help you
'Cause keepin' you lead free is a thing we can do.
Lead can creep into your life and into your world.
It doesn't care if you're a boy or a girl.
So listen to us; hear what we're talkin' about
And together we'll keep or get the lead out!
get it out	keep it out	get it out	keep it out
You can help get the lead out be a lead detector too,
Spread the word, be alert, keep the lead out of you!
Come on; move it. Get the lead out!

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Make it Lead Free
Words and Music by Joan Maute
Lead can make sick; lead can make you feel down.
So you need to watch whenever lead is around.
Here are some simple rules to keep in mind.
Don't you forget them; do them all of the time.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
You need to clean your floors; clean your window sills too.
You need to clean that door where the paint's chipping through.
Just get a good detergent, get some water and see
How you can help yourself and family to stay lead free.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Watch your younger sisters; watch young brothers also
Don't let them chew paint blisters, help them by saying "no".
And when they drop their bottles or their toys onto the floor
Make them nice and clean and wash them once more.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Wash your hands real often, 'specially before you eat
Or when they get real dirty, or you're ready to sleep.
Eat a balanced diet; eat the food that will stick.
Let the water run; drinking it won't make you sick.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.
Make it lead free, keep it lead free.

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