5 Surprising Sources of Lead Exposure
False
Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. According to the Centers of Disease Control, more than half a million children ages 1-5 in the U.S. have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a child's development. Because their bodies are small and growing, babies and young children are at greatest risk.
Many parents don't know much about how to prevent lead poisoning. Lead isn't only in paint chips. It can show up in surprising places -- like dust on your windowsill, or in your vegetable garden, or in a playground. Here are five surprising sources of lead -- and tips on how to keep your kids safe.
Lead Dust
Parents might worry about a baby eating big chips of lead paint. But it's the little paint chips -- so small that they're just bits of dust -- that experts say are a bigger concern.
Although lead-based paint hasn't been sold since 1978, plenty of older homes still have it. Tiny fragments of lead paint can float through the air and accumulate on surfaces throughout your house. Babies can pick them up on their hands and get them into their mouths. They can also breathe them in directly. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn't take much. Even at very low levels of exposure, lead dust can cause harm.
What you can do: If you live in a home built before 1978, have your home tested for lead. Ideally, hire a trained professional. Although less reliable, you could also test surface paint yourself with a home kit.
If you have lead, look into abatement. It can be expensive. Often, a cheaper option is encapsulation -- sealing the lead paint with a fresh layer of new paint.
Whatever you do, don't start scraping or sanding paint without precautions. That will just send lead dust throughout your home.
Lead and Home Renovations
Once you start a repair, painting, or renovation project in an older home, you can expose lead paint and send particles of it into the air.
Next Article:
Skip to Article Content- health-e head2toe: How Environmental Exposure May Affect Your Child
- Gentle Care for Baby's Skin and Hair What's in baby skin and hair care products?
- The Facts About BPA What you need to know about possible risks from bisphenol-A.
- 5 Surprising Sources of Lead Exposure Where to look for lead dangers beyond old paint.
- Safer Cleaning Products How you can reduce chemical exposure and still have a clean house.
- When Your Child Has Allergies Tips on reducing allergy triggers in your home.
- Fumes, Smoke, and More How to cut down on things that may irritate your child's eyes.
- Avoiding Asthma Triggers Making your home healthier when your child has asthma.
- Safer Pest Control Keeping pests out of the house without using extreme measures.
- Organic Lawn Care Maintaining a safer lawn for your kids and your pets.
- Choosing Personal Care Products Helping your child make healthy choices about hair and skin care.
- Achoo! Scents and Fragrances If it smells good but makes you sneeze, think twice.
- Natural Cosmetics: Makeup Tips How to look good while using products that are gentle on the skin.
- Slideshow: What's Irritating Your Child's Skin? From soap to bug spray, a look at possible skin irritants and gentler choices.
- Slideshow: Indoor Air Pollution What is your family breathing in, and how can you make it better?
False
5 Surprising Sources of Lead Exposure
Lead poisoning is a serious risk for young kids. According to the Centers of Disease Control, more than half a million children ages 1-5 in the U.S. have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. Even with treatment, lead poisoning can permanently affect a child's development. Because their bodies are small and growing, babies and young children are at greatest risk.
Many parents don't know much about how to prevent lead poisoning. Lead isn't only in paint chips. It can show up in surprising places -- like dust on your windowsill, or in your vegetable garden, or in a playground. Here are five surprising sources of lead -- and tips on how to keep your kids safe.
Lead Dust
Parents might worry about a baby eating big chips of lead paint. But it's the little paint chips -- so small that they're just bits of dust -- that experts say are a bigger concern.
Although lead-based paint hasn't been sold since 1978, plenty of older homes still have it. Tiny fragments of lead paint can float through the air and accumulate on surfaces throughout your house. Babies can pick them up on their hands and get them into their mouths. They can also breathe them in directly. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn't take much. Even at very low levels of exposure, lead dust can cause harm.
What you can do: If you live in a home built before 1978, have your home tested for lead. Ideally, hire a trained professional. Although less reliable, you could also test surface paint yourself with a home kit.
If you have lead, look into abatement. It can be expensive. Often, a cheaper option is encapsulation -- sealing the lead paint with a fresh layer of new paint.
Whatever you do, don't start scraping or sanding paint without precautions. That will just send lead dust throughout your home.
Lead and Home Renovations
Once you start a repair, painting, or renovation project in an older home, you can expose lead paint and send particles of it into the air.