Checking for Lead in Your  Family

A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead. Blood tests are important for:

  • Children who are 6 months to 1 year old (6 months if you live in an older home that might have lead in the paint).
  • Family members that you think might have high levels of lead.
  • If your child is older than 1 year, talk to your doctor about whether your child needs testing. Your doctor or health center can do blood tests.

    Where Lead Based Paint is Often Found

    Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned lead-based paint from housing. Lead can be found:

    • In homes in the city, country, or suburbs.
    • In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing.
    • Inside and outside of the house.
    • In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)




    Where Lead Paint is a Problem

    Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.

    Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

    Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include:

    • Windows and window sills. Doors and door frames.
    • Stairs, railings, and banisters. Porches and fences.

    Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can reenter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.

    Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. Call your state agency (see below) to find out about soil testing for lead.

    How to Check your Home (Own or Rent)

    You can get your home checked for lead hazards in one of two ways, or both:

    • paint inspection tells you the lead content of every painted surface in your home. It won’t tell you whether the paint is a hazard or how you should deal with it.
    • A risk assessment tells you if there are any sources of serious lead exposure (such as peeling paint and lead dust). It also tells you what actions to take to address these hazards.

    Have qualified professionals do the work. The federal government is writing standards for inspectors and risk assessors. Some states might already have standards in place. Call your state agency for help with locating qualified professionals in your area.

    Trained professionals use a range of methods when checking your home, including:

    • Visual inspection of paint condition and location.
    • Lab tests of paint samples.
    • Surface dust tests.
    • A portable x-ray fluorescence machine.

    Take precautions before you begin remodeling or renovations that disturb painted surfaces (such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls):

    • Have the area tested for lead-based paint.
    • Do not use a dry scraper, belt-sander, propane torch, or heat gun to remove lead-based paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and fumes. Lead dust can remain in your home long after the work is done.
    • Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can’t move your family, at least completely seal off the work area.
    • Follow other safety measures to reduce lead hazards.

    Ask for the brochure “Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home.” This brochure explains what to do before, during, and after renovations.

    You can find out about other safety measures by calling 1-800-424-LEAD.

    If you have already completed renovations or remodeling that could have released lead-based paint or dust, get your young children tested and follow the steps outlined above in this brochure.

    • 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 or sponge 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 low-fat 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 like 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 not eliminate all risks of exposure.
    • To permanently remove lead hazards, you must hire a 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. If possible, hire a certified lead abatement contractor. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules as set by their state or by the federal government.

    Call your state agency (see …) for help with locating qualified contractors in your area and to see if financial assistance is available.