You may need to be concerned about lead paint at home if, like me, you live in a house or building constructed before 1978, the year the federal government banned lead-based paint. Lead, as we’ve often discussed here, is extremely toxic to children and can seriously damage the brain and developing nervous system. (Which means it’s also very hazardous to the developing fetus, so pregnant women need to be extra careful as well.) Lead gets into a baby or child’s system through ingestion or inhalation. A child might eat lead paint chips, or breath in lead dust from crumbling lead paint. When lead paint dust settles on a child’s toys, he may get them into his system through mouthing. And lead dust on a kid’s hands may easily find its way into the child’s mouth when the child sucks his thumb or eats.

Crumbling lead paint is particularly a problem in “high traffic” areas, such as on windows and sills and doorways (the friction caused by opening and closing a window or door is one common way lead dust is produced), and on stairs, railings, and banisters.

So what can you do to help protect your children? First off, get their lead levels checked. This is a simple blood test you can request from your pediatrician. If there is an apparent lead issue, you may want to have a certified inspector examine your home for lead and advise you on areas of particular concern.

As for home maintenance, the Environmental Protection Agency has the following tips:

• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Clean up paint chips immediately.
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead. REMEMBER: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH PRODUCTS TOGETHER SINCE THEY CAN FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.
• Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
• Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time.
• Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
• Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
• Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good nutrition:

• You can temporarily reduce lead hazards by taking actions such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover soil with high lead levels. These actions (called “interim controls”) are not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention.
• To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a certified lead “abatement” contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not enough.
• Always hire a person with special training for correcting lead problems–someone who knows how to do this work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules set by their state or the federal government.
• Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) for help with locating certified contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.

It seems like every lead scare I’ve heard of in my circle involves home renovation. Please remember that if proper safety measures aren’t taken, renovating a home with lead paint can spread lead dust everywhere and seriously put your kids or unborn baby at risk. Do your homework before undertaking a renovation project, and make sure anyone you hire takes proper measures to protect your family from lead dust. (Also a side note: Unless your vacuum has an HEPA filter, it shouldn’t be used to clean up lead paint and dust in your window wells, around your baseboards, etc. - it will only spread the dust around more.)

We moved into our first home recently. We were fairly sure there was lead paint, and a professional inspection verified this. The inspector noted that our main area of hazard was our old windows, so we bit the bullet and had them replaced. We’ll be paying for them for the next decade, but I must say, every time I open and close one of our new windows, I’m grateful that I’m not spreading more lead dust around. If you are interested in replacement windows, do see if you qualify for financial assistance.

See the EPA website for more information on lead.

Posted by MommaSteph.