Lead On Surface

Despite the ban on lead-based paint (LBP) in 1978, over 57 million homes in the United States still contain some lead, according to HUD. LBP can be found on windows, doors, wood trim, walls, cabinets, porches, stairs, railings, fire escapes, old furniture (including cribs), and even children’s toys. As LBP deteriorates, it produces loose paint chips that children may ingest.

Lead dust is the primary source of lead exposure. Activities involving moving parts of windows and doors generate paint dust. Remodeling and renovations also create paint dust. When an LBP surface is sanded or scraped, it disintegrates into tiny, sometimes invisible particles that children can swallow or inhale. Normal hand-to-mouth activity in children often results in lead dust ingestion. Other sources of lead include vinyl miniblinds, ceramics, dishes, toys, water and sewer pipes, solder, soil, lead crystal, and drinking water.

Each year, more than 200,000 children in the United States are affected by lead poisoning. Even in small amounts, inhaled or ingested lead can cause permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, and hearing, especially in children under 7 years old. Lead poisoning is not limited to children; adults exposed to low levels of lead may experience headaches, mood changes, sleep disturbances, reduced fertility (men), high blood pressure, digestive issues, nerve disorders, joint and muscle pain. High levels of lead exposure can lead to intellectual disability, blindness, convulsions, comas, and even death. Lead can also complicate pregnancies and affect the normal development of babies