Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home.pdf

If you're planning to buy or rent a home built before 1978, it's essential to know that many of these homes contain lead-based paint. Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards. Here's what you need to know:

Lead gets into the body through breathing in lead dust, swallowing lead dust, or eating paint chips or soil with lead. Children under 6 are especially vulnerable, as their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to lead's damaging effects. Pregnant women should also be aware that lead can harm a developing fetus.

Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, including:

In children: nervous system and kidney damage, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, decreased intelligence, speech and language problems, poor muscle coordination, decreased muscle and bone growth, and hearing damage.

In adults: harm to a developing fetus, increased chance of high blood pressure during pregnancy, fertility problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.

To protect your family from lead hazards:

Don't try to remove lead-based paint yourself. Keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration. Get your home checked for lead hazards by a certified inspector or risk assessor. Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint. Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces. Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling. Hire only EPA- or state-approved Lead-Safe certified renovation firms. Before buying, renting, or renovating your home, have it checked for lead-based paint. Consult your healthcare provider about testing your children for lead. Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often. Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C. Remove shoes or wipe soil off shoes before entering your house.