Protect Your Children From
Lead Poisonin
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Get your child
tested for lead
poisoning, even
if he or she
seems healthy.
Clean floors,
window frames,
window sills, and
other surfaces
weekly. Use a
mop, sponge, or
paper towel with
warm water and a
general all-purpose
cleaner or a cleaner
made specifically
for lead.
Reduce the risk of
lead paint. Make
sure your child is
not chewing 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
a few hours, let it
run for 15-30
seconds before
drinking it or
cooking with it.
Eat right and don't
store food in high-
lead pottery.
Lead poisoning is a serious problem for young children
the younger the child, the greater the risk.
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
1-800-426-4791
For More Information
National Lead Information Center
1-800-424-LEAD
Visit our web site
http ://www.epa.gov/lead
United States Environmental Protection Agency • Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics • Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Recycled/Recyclable — Printed with vegetable oil based inks on recycled paper (30% minimum post-consumer)
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Lead awareness and your
children
About 1 in 22 children in America have
high levels of lead in their blood, according to
the Centers, 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 vour hcnie. 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 niany
other products. Now that \ve know the danger; of
lead, house paint is almost lead-free, leaded
gasoline has been phased out and household
plumbing is no longer made with lead materials.
How lead affects your
child's health
The long-term effects of lead in a child can be
severe. They include learning disabilities, decreased
growth, hyperactivtty. 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
yourself 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.
1. Get your child tested.
Even children who appear kealtkv may have
high levels of lead. You can't tell if a child has
lead poisoning unless you have him or her tested.
A blood test takes only ten minutes, and results
should be ready within a week.
Blood tests are usually recommended fcr:
/ Children at ages 1 and 2.
/ Children or other farmlv members who
have been exposed to high levels of lead.
/ Children who should be tested under
your state or local screening plan.
To find out where to have your child tested.
call your doctor or local health clinic. They can
explain what the test results mean, and if more
testing will be needed
2. Keep it clean.
Qrdinan' dust and dirt may contain lead.
Children can swallow lead or breathe lead
contaminated dust if they play in dust or dirt
and then put their fingers or toys in their mouths.
or if thev eat without washing their hands first.
/ Keep the areas where your children play
as dust-free and clean as possible.
/ Wash pacifiers and bottle i after they fail
on the floor. Keep' extras handy.
/ Clean floors, window frames, window
sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop.
sponge, or paper towel with warm water and
a general all-purpose cleaner ci 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 rnop heads
after cleaning dirty and dusty areas.
/ Wash toys and stuffed animals regularly.
/ Make sure your children wash Their hands
before meals, nap time, and bedtime.
3. Reduce the risk from
lead paint.
Most homes built before I960 contain
leaded paint. Some homes built as recently as
19"?S may also contain lead paint. Thin paint
could be on window frames, walls, the outside
of your house, or other surfaces. Tiny pieces of
peeling or chipping paint are dangerous if eaten.
Lead paint in good condition is not usually a
problem except in places where painted surfaces
rob against each other and create dust. (Fci
example, when you open a window, the
painted surfaces rub against each other.)
S Make sure vour child does nor chew on
anything covered with lead paint, such as
painted window sills, cribs, or playpens.
/ Don't bum painted wood. It may contain
lead.
4. Don't remove lead paint
yourself
Families have been poisoned by scraping
or sanding lead paiHT because these activities
generate large amounts of lead dust. Lead dust
from repairs or renovations of older buildings
can remain in the building tciig after the work
is completed. Heating paint may release lead
into the air.
/ Ask your local or state health department
if they will test your home for lead paint.
Some will test for free. Home test kits
cannoi detect small amounts of lead
under some conditions.
/ Hire a person with special training for
correcting lead paint problems to remove
lead paint from your home, someone who
knows how to do this work safelv and has
the proper equipment to clean up
thoroughly. Don't try to remove
lead paint yourself.
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