Lead Poisoning Prevention
NKY Health addresses lead poisoning in a variety of ways, including providing screenings, overseeing treatment, and working to remove lead risks in homes — all with the goal of eliminating lead poisoning. Lead is toxic, even in tiny amounts.
The Health Dangers of Lead
Lead was once a commonly used material in construction and crafts, and can still be found in many sources—water pipes, old toys and furniture, lead-glazed pottery or porcelain. Many homes, schools, office buildings, and child care facilities built before 1978 have lead-based paint.
Lead is highly toxic, and lead from paint, chips, and dust that gets absorbed into the body can pose serious health hazards. Children under 6 years old are at the greatest risk, as they absorb more lead, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues.
Lead can also be dangerous to a developing fetus.
Health Effects on Adults
In adults, exposure to led can cause:
- Harm to a developing fetus
- Increased chance of high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Fertility problems (in men and women)
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Muscle and joint pain
Health Effects on Children
While low-lead exposure is most common, exposure to high amounts of lead can have devastating effects on children, including seizures, unconsciousness, and in some cases, death. Other effects include:
- Nervous system and kidney damage
- Learning disabilities, attention-deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence
- Speech, language, and behavior problems
- Poor muscle coordination
- Decreased muscle and bone growth
- Hearing damage
The most common source of lead getting into children is through ingestion. It is highly important that parents regularly wash their children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, toys, and other items they may place in their mouth.
Where Lead Can Be Found
In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint, meaning many homes—including private, federally assisted, and federally owned housing, as well as child care facilities built before 1978—often have lead-based paint. While the amount of lead has decreased over time, it can also be found:
- On surfaces inside and outside of the home in the form of chips or dust.
- 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.
- In pipes, faucets, and fixtures. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986.
Reducing Lead Hazards
Lead-based paint is usually not a hazard if it is in good condition, and if it is not on an impact or friction surface like a window. However, deteriorated lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged paint) is a hazard and needs immediate attention. Disturbing lead-based paint or removing lead improperly can increase the hazard to your family by spreading even more lead dust around the house.
In addition to day-to-day cleaning, you can temporarily reduce lead-based paint hazards by taking actions, such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover lead-contaminated soil.
You can minimize exposure to lead when renovating, repairing, or painting by hiring certified contractor who is trained to address lead hazards safely.
Lead Dust
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded, or heated. Lead dust also forms when painted surfaces containing lead bump or rub together. Lead paint chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can reenter the air when the home is vacuumed or swept, or when people walk through it.
Lead in Soil
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes.
Lead in Your Home
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 using a certified inspector or risk assessor.
- Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.
- Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.
- 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.
- Remove shoes or wipe soil off shoes before entering your house.
If you think your home has lead-based water pipes:
- Contact your water company to determine if the pipe that leads into your home from the water main (called a service line) is made from lead.
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead.
- Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes.
- Regularly clean your facuet’s screen.
How We Help
Screening
Every child should be tested by his or her primary care provider for lead poisoning at ages 9 to 12 months and again at age 24 months. Children with a higher risk should be tested more frequently. A Health Department nurse works to manage the cases of any children found to have high blood lead levels.
Investigations
Staff from the Health Department conducts investigations for possible causes when a child is found to have high blood lead levels.
Education and Outreach
Health Department staff collaborate with community groups and state and federal agencies to provide education around childhood lead poisoning.
Additional Resources
Download our 20-page brochure on how to “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,” which includes information on how to identify lead paint, simple steps to protect your family, how to reduce lead hazards, EPA regional office locations, and more.