Heath Effects of Lead in Your Home
If you are planning on purchasing or renting a home that was constructed before 1978 you and your family’s health could be at risk. Several homes that were built before 1978 have lead-based paint on the walls, ceilings and/or other portions of the home. Lead from the paint can pose serious health effects.
Here are some areas that we will explore and areas that you should consider:
- How does lead gets into the body?
• How does lead affect health?
• What you can do to protect your family.
Before renting or buying a pre-1978 home or apartment
Federal law requires sellers to disclose known information on lead-based paint or leadbased paint hazards before selling a house.
Real estate sales contracts must also include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. (Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead.) Additionally, Landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. If undertaking renovations, repairs, or painting projects in your pre-1978 home or apartment then contractors are required to follow lead regulations when working in your home.
Steps to Protect Your Family from Lead Hazards If you think your home has lead-based paint:
• Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself.
• Always keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration.
• Get your home checked for lead hazards. Find a certified inspector or risk assessor at epa.gov/lead.
• Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.
• Regularly clean floors, windowsills, and other surfaces.
• Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling.
• When renovating, repairing, or painting, 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 health care provider about testing your children for lead. Your pediatrician can check for lead with a simple blood test.
• 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 of shoes before entering your house.
Lead Gets into the Body in Many Ways
• Breathe in lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations, repairs, or painting that disturb painted surfaces).
• Swallowing lead dust that has settled on food, food preparation surfaces, and other places. Eating paint chips or soil that contains lead. Lead is especially dangerous to children under the age of 6. At this age, children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Children’s growing bodies absorb more lead. Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
Do your due diligence and ensure you and your family are not exposed to lead. If you have questions, please contact us at HomeHealthHazards.com.