Every year, doctors inform parents that their children have been poisoned by dangerous lead-based paint. Public health officials report an alarming increase in the number of children suffering from asthma triggered by common conditions in their own homes. Approximately three-quarters of the nation's houses built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. When properly maintained and managed, this paint poses little risk. However, 1.7 million children have blood lead levels above safe limits, mostly due to exposure to lead-based paint hazards.
To protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil, Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. The law directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978.
Most private housing, public housing, federally owned housing, and housing receiving federal assistance are affected by the lead disclosure rule . If you did not receive the Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards form when you bought or leased pre-1978 housing, contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at 1.800.424.LEAD (1.800.424.5323).
Here are some other sources where lead can be found:
- In soil around a home - Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.
- Household dust - Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.
- Drinking water - Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
- Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
- Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
- On the job - If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family's clothes.
- Old painted toys and furniture.
- Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
- Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
- Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.
- Folk remedies that contain lead, such as "great" and "azarcon" used to treat an upset stomach.
You may wish to access information on Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control .
The EPA offers information on their website about new requirements to protect children from lead-based paint hazards and why lead is a concern .
Finally, you may wish to view general information about lead poisoning .
October 25-31, 2009, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week , a week dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning.