LEAD PAINT:

Fact Sheet:

What Are Lead Hazards, and Where Are They Found?

Lead hazards are conditions that are likely to poison or cause other adverse health effects when people are exposed to them. There are four (4) major sources of lead hazards in and around the home, including lead-based paint, lead dust, lead-contaminated soil and drinking water containing lead.

Lead based paint is primarily found in housing built before 1978. It can be a hazard, especially if it falls into poor condition, is disturbed during maintenance or normal wear and tear. If the paint is peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking, it will create lead dust that poisons children through normal hand-to-mouth activity. Children may also eat paint chips or chew on painted surfaces, resulting in poisoning. Even lead-based paint that appears to be in good condition can be a problem if it is on surfaces that get a lot of wear and tear, such as door jambs and window tracks. It is most important to repair areas where lead paint is deteriorating. All areas should be repaired and repainted using a good latex paint or lead sealer. After repairs are made, the home should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any lead dust that may be left behind. A lead dust test should then be performed to verify that the cleaning was effective.

Lead dust is created when lead paint is sanded or scraped during maintenance or repair, or just through every day wear and tear. When maintenance or renovation takes place, the dust from these operations settles on surfaces such as floors, countertops, window sills and furniture. If the paint being worked on contains lead, the lead is deposited as dust. Window tracks and door jambs can be another source of lead dust. If these components rub during normal opening and closing, lead dust can be created and deposited on surfaces throughout the home. Lead from the outside soil can be tracked into the home, becoming an additional source of lead dust.

Soil can become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint flakes, chalks or peels and gets into the soil. Homes near certain industries such as smelters or battery manufacturers may have lead in the soil as a result of these operations. Past use of leaded gasoline has also left lead deposits in our nation's soil. Playgrounds and gardens should not be placed in areas where the soil is contaminated with lead.

Drinking water can be contaminated with lead, regardless of it's source. Many faucets in homes and on store shelves contain leaded components that can leach lead into the water. Leaded solder in household piping and leaded components in well pumps have been in use for many years, and continue to leach lead into the drinking water of thousands of homes even today. Many public water delivery systems still have old lead piping through which the water must pass before it reaches the home. According the the EPA, older homes, very new homes and high rise apartments are the most likely to have lead contaminated drinking water. Water with a high pH has a tendency to leach more lead than water with a neutral pH, and warm water leaches more lead than cold.

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