Improving Air Quality in Your Community
Indoor Air: Special Concerns in Older Homes: Lead - Additional Information
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.This information will help you gain a better understanding of questions homeowners may have about lead in older homes. The sections below provide more information on this topic.
- What are the health effects of exposure to lead?
- Where is lead found?
- How can the risk of lead poisoning be reduced?
- How can lead problems within older homes be remediated?
What are the health effects from exposure to lead?
- Ways in Which People are Exposed to Lead
- Lead exposure can occur if people
:
- Put their hands or other objects in their mouths that contain lead.
- Eat paint chips or soil that contain lead.
- Inhale lead dust, especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
- Lead is especially dangerous to children because:
- Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
- Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
- Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
- Children and pregnant women are at the highest risk for exposure to lead.
- Lead exposure can occur if people
:
- Health Effects of Lead Exposure
- Children
- Damage to the brain and nervous system.
- Behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity).
- Slowed growth.
- Hearing problems.
- Headaches.
- Adults
- Difficulties during pregnancy.
- Other reproductive problems (in both men and women).
- High blood pressure.
- Digestive disorders.
- Nerve disorders.
- Memory and concentration problems.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Children
- Lead-based paint may be found on many types of housing built before 1978, including single-family homes, apartments, and private and public housing.
- Lead-based paint may be found both inside and outside the home.
- Dust can contain lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into the home.
- 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 dust that has settled on surfaces and objects that people touch can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.
- Check out issues associated with lead in drinking water.
How can the risk of lead poisoning be reduced?
- Specifics for Homes
- Get your home checked for lead hazards, especially if it was constructed before 1978.
- Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other high-use surfaces.
- Wipe soil off shoes before entering the house.
- Do not bring lead dust into the home. Lead dust can be generated by disturbing lead-contaminated soil or at certain workplaces such as secondary lead smelters.
- Specifics for Remodeling
- Separate remodeling areas from living areas.
- Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition.
- If you rent, speak with your landlord about repairing peeling or chipping paint.
- Do not try to remove lead-based paint yourself.
- Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.
- Check out EPA's guide entitled Reducing Lead Hazards when Remodeling Your Home (PDF) (26 pp, 933 KB). In Spanish, Reduccin de los riesgos de contaminacin por plomo cuando remodela su casa (PDF) (26 pp, 412 KB).
- Specifics for Children
- If you suspect lead poisoning, get young children tested for lead, even if they appear normal.
- Keep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as possible.
- Frequently wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys.
- Make sure children eat foods high in calcium and iron.
- Check out EPA's brochure called Lead and a Healthy Diet: What You Can Do to Protect Your Child (PDF) (8 inches x 8 inches page, 10 pp, 376 KB).
- Check out a table that summarizes several studies about reducing lead through mitigation and education.
How can lead problems within older homes be remediated?
- Have the area tested for lead-based paint. Keep in mind that while home test kits are available, they are not always accurate. If possible, hire a lead abatement contractor, who has special training for correcting lead problems.
- Check out EPA's publication on Testing Your Home for Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil (PDF) (20 pp, 204 KB).
- Do not attempt to remove lead paint yourself.
- During lead-based paint removal, temporarily move the family, especially children and pregnant women, until work is complete.
- If the family cannot move, seal off the work area.
- Once work is complete, properly clean the area. If not properly cleaned, lead dust can remain for an extended period after the renovation or repair is finished. EPA has prepared a booklet called Reducing Lead Hazards when Remodeling Your Home (PDF) (26 pp, 933 KB). In Spanish, Reducción de los riesgos de contaminación por plomo cuando remodela su casa (PDF) (26 pp, 412 KB).
- EPA has published a brochure entitled Finding a Qualified Lead Professional for Your Home (PDF) (2 pp, 102 KB)