Using this site: This site is divided into five major sections accessible from the buttons above or the underlined title sections below.
About Lead Hazards

The #1 source of lead poisoning is paint in older housing.
Lead Poisoning Harms Children by Causing:

Learning Disabilities
Behavioral Problems
Reduced IQ
Attention Deficit Disorder
Developmental Delays

4.4% of preschool children have elevated blood lead levels: nearly one million children age 1-5, enough to fill 35,000 classrooms.

Children at Highest Risk of Being Poisoned:

  • Children Under Two Are Especially Vulnerable
  • Low Income: 8 Times Higher Risk than Wealthy Children
  • African-American : 5 Times Higher Risk than White Children
  • Mexican American: Twice As Likely as White Children
  • In Older Housing
  • Up to 50% in Some Distressed Neighborhoods

 Sources of Lead in the U.S.:

  • Paint in the U.S.
  • Past Gasoline Use
  • Industrial Sources
  • Drinking Water
  • Consumer Products

The #1 Source of Lead Poisoning is Paint in Older Housing

Lead-based paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978

Lead-Based Paint Hazards
Intact paint is rarely the problem; abatement is rarely necessary. Poisonings are mostly caused by exposure to lead dust.

  • Lead dust settles on floors and other horizontal surfaces and gets on children's hands and toys
  • Lead is also in bare soil
  • Children ingest dust from toys and hands during normal hand-to-mouth activity

Lead Dust from Deteriorated Paint caused by:

  • Deferred Maintenance
  • Building Deterioration
  • Water Damage, Other Moisture Problems
  • Friction and Impact Surfaces
  • Unsafe Renovation/Remodeling

Research Findings

  • Lead dust settles quickly on floor, window sill, other surfaces
  • Dust lead level is the best yardstick of risk and for determining whether leaded dust has been cleaned up to achieve clearance and dwelling unit is safe for occupancy
  • Paint repair can generate lots of lead dust
  • Broom sweep won't clean up lead dust
  • Lead-contaminated dust is invisible to the naked eye

Lead Safety is Everyone's Job

  • Many states license specialists
    • Lead evaluation experts
    • Lead hazard Control experts
  • Everyone who works around old paint needs to control, contain, and clean up lead dust
  • Training in lead safety has been developed for painters and remodelers

 

This web page is produced and maintained by The National Center for Healthy Housing for the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.