Preventing Lead Poisoning in the Home

From lead based paint to contaminated clothing, there are a number of ways lead can get into your home. Lead poisoning can be extremely detrimental to your health but it is preventable. Often nothing is done to prevent lead contamination until someone gets sick, typically children, and the effects of lead poisoning can be lifelong.

Because children are more susceptible to lead poisoning, as a parent you have to examine your home and lifestyle to be sure you are safe. More than 10 million American children have lead poisoning and contamination usually occurs in the home. Learn how to identify lead in your home to stop contamination from affecting you or your children.

Lead contamination in the home can be caused by a number of things but the main culprits are lead based paint and lead pipes. Today, neither lead based paint or lead pipes are used in home construction, but before the 1980s it was quite common. The older your home is, the higher the risk is of lead poisoning. You can lower the risk significantly by replacing old windows and doors, and also by removing lead piping from your home.

If your home was built before 1978 you should hire a professional to test surfaces in your home, and the soil upon which it sits. If your home is found to contain dangerous amounts of lead you should have it professionally removed right away. It can be expensive to remove lead from the home, but it is well worth the cost considering the risks of lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning generally affects the major organs of the body, and can have devastating effects on the nervous system. Lead poisoning has been linked to behavioral problems, learning disabilities, birth defects, and seizures. If there is a large amount of lead in the bloodstream it can also cause other health problems like chronic headaches, nausea, muscle weakness, tooth decay, and can affect coordination skills.

The effects of lead can be especially dangerous for children of young ages and may lead to developmental problems later on. Pregnant women can also pass lead through the umbilical cord, and nursing mothers can pass lead through breast milk. All children should be tested for lead by the time they reach the age of 3 to determine they are truly safe. There is no cure for lead poisoning but some medications may help along with the removal of contaminants from the living environment.

Other than paint and pipes, lead can contaminate your home in a number of other ways. If you work in an industry where you are exposed to lead such as smelting, automotive repair, electronics manufacturing, or home construction/renovation you have a higher chance of contaminating your home with lead. To lower your risk always store a clean change of clothes in an area free of lead and change into them before going home. You may want to consider showering as well before getting into your vehicle or entering your home.

Clothing that may be contaminated with lead should not be washed at home, and especially not with any other clothing. If possible, wash your work clothes at your place of employment or use a laundromat. Shoes worn at work, should be left at work so you do not elevate the chance of tracking lead into your home by foot.

Leaded crystal can also be a danger and you should not use it for serving or eating. Leaded crystal should only be used as display because lead can leach into foods and drinks from use. Often, lead poisoning occurs because of ingestion or inhalation of lead dust.

Renovation on an older home can release lead dust into the air and proper steps should be taken to avoid contamination. Rooms that are being worked on should be sealed off from the rest of the home and lead dust should be properly contained and disposed of. When renovating an older home always wear a HEPA filtered breathing mask and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants.

Your lifestyle may also lead to lead poisoning. If you or your children regularly visit homes and buildings built before 1960 your risk of getting lead poisoning is considerably higher. These risks are more common in city areas where buildings may have been constructed during the 1920s or earlier. Churches, day-cares, schools, grandparents homes, and other old buildings may contain lead paints and pipes that can be dangerous to your health.

If you are worried that building upgrades are not up to par check with local officials to see what can be done. In most states, there are laws concerning amounts of lead allowed in residential and commercial properties. Lead test kits can also be purchased at hardware stores and they are very easy to use.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of lead poisoning are not usually apparent until the levels of lead in the blood are very high. High levels of lead in the blood is very dangerous, especially for children and testing is the only way to diagnose lead poisoning. Because the symptoms of lead poisoning are often confused with other illnesses, it is imperative young children have their blood tested by at least the age of three.

Only a Blood Lead Test can determine the actual amount of lead in the blood and this is done by taking a small vial of blood from the patient. A Zinc Protoporphyin Test may also be requested at the same time because it will indicate lead related problems associated with red blood cell production. Those suffering with lead poisoning may also be deficient in iron because lead interferes with absorption. Iron levels can be tested with a finger-stick and may be a good indicator of lead poisoning.

Because diagnosis can be very difficult it is important to test early, and test often if you are at risk. When it comes to lead you have to be careful. Lead may also be found in costume jewelry, cosmetics, imported foods and medications, industrial paints, gun ammunition, ash from burned wood, toys, car batteries, and in some ceramics. If you or your children have any of the symptoms of lead poisoning, or you are at risk see your doctor to get tested.