Products We Use Daily that Contain Lead

With lead poisoning awareness on the rise, parents are using more caution when it comes to their children's toys. However, lead is found in many household items that we use everyday. Even if you managed to sort through the toy box, and carefully research new toys coming in then home, are your kids safe from lead poisoning? Maybe not, considering that most homes have items that contain dangerous amounts of lead. The fact is you might not even realize the potential dangers in your home. Old paint, some old pipes, and even new toys are the most commonly talked about dangers most of us are aware of. But is there more? Absolutely.

Mini blinds have also been recalled due to the amount of lead found in them. However, there are still some found in circulation on the market today. Not to mention the fact that many households have older mini blinds in them. If the mini blind contains lead, the lead is released as the the materials degrade with the exposure to UV rays. This is not only potential dangerous to humans, but also to animals that might chew on the blinds.

Fashion Jewelry also has the potential of containing large amounts of lead. Especially vintage costume jewelry. It is very common for a mother, or grandmother to give a young child older costume jewelry to play with. I remember my grandmother giving me piles of old bead necklaces, and clip on earrings as a young girl. It's not only the older costume jewelry that contains lead, some pieces are still being found on the market today.

Ceramic tiles typically found in older bathrooms might contain dangerous amount of lead. Your child might not chew on the wall, but that's not where the dangers lie. Who wants a bathroom with 70's tile, especially the colored ones. A common home improvement is remodeling the bathroom. When the old tile is being chipped from the walls, and destroyed the debris, and dust can be a health hazard.

Ceramic toothbrush holders may also contain lead. You should check for cracks, chips, and wear on the glaze. The most common place to find wear on the glaze is inside the hole where your toothbrush goes. If you find there is chips, cracks, or wear on the glaze you should stop using that toothbrush holder immediately, unless you are certain it does not contain lead.

Common everyday garden hoses are often made from recycled materials. Many of the common garden hoses found in stores has a disclaimer on the packaging warning of possible lead content. How many of us parents are guilty of letting our child play with a garden hose. I admit it, I have. It's very common to turn on a sprinkler during the summer for the kids to play under. We also fill small kiddie pools, water balloons, let the kids water the plants, and even take a sip from the hose outside from time to time. Honestly, it never crossed my mind that the garden hose could contain high level of lead. There are hoses that do not contain lead on the market, but there a little more expensive. Personally, I'd rater pay ten extra dollars, and know my kids aren't in harms way.

It is practically impossible to have a 100% lead free home. However, by taking precautions we can lower the risk of one of children becoming ill as a result of lead poisoning. Low doses of lead can cause behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and learning disabilities. Higher levels of lead in your blood system can cause seizures, comas, brain damage, and even death. If you think you child might be suffering from lead poisoning ask your pediatrician to test your child. If you do not have insurance, contact your local health department.