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Why should I worry about lead?
Lead is a heavy metal which accumulates in the body. Over time it can cause barin damage resulting in learning disabilities and even death in high concentrations.
Where does the lead come from?
In most cases of childhood lead poisoning, the source of the lead is lead-contaminated dust or soil. The lead in this contaminated dust and soil most often comes from either deteriorating lead-based paint (most often found in dwellings built before 1960) or vinyl miniblinds sold before 1997.
Which parts of the house are the most dangerous?
In older dwellings with lead-based paint, hazardous levels of lead in dust are usually found on window sills and wells and on outside surfaces close to the dwelling (steps and porch floors and ledges). Dirty carpets, rugs, and interior floors in older dwellings may also have hazardous levels of lead dust. Window sills, furniture, and carpets directly under vinyl miniblinds with lead often have hazardous levels of lead dust. Some lead-poisoned children also ingest lead paint chips or chew on vinyl miniblinds.
Are there other sources to be concerned about?
Occasionally, a family member gets lead on shoes and clothes while working with lead as an occupation or hobby, and carpets, floors, steps, furniture, and car seats become contaminated with lead dust. Other common sources of lead in the environments of lead-poisoned children are old ceramic tubs and sinks and metal keys. Lead may also be present in batteries, fishing sinkers, and imported ceramic ware.
If I think my house is contaminated, what do I do?
- Test your house and children
- Remove the lead sources or
- Minimize the house dust which contains the lead
How and when should my child be tested for lead?
Children should be tested for lead with a blood test at 12 months of age and again at 24 months (or sooner, if lead hazards could be in their environments). Children aged 36 months to 72 months who have never been tested for lead should also be tested if lead hazards are potentially in their environments. Children on Medicaid are routinely tested for lead. Further information and testing are available from county health departments and/or private health care providers.
How do I test my home for lead?
- Hiring a certified risk assessor is the most accurate way to determine the locations of significant lead hazards in or near a dwelling.
- Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has a list of certified risk assessors as well as individuals and firms certified to do lead-based paint abatement work.
- Many hardware and home improvement stores sell qualitative home testers that can be used to detect the presence of lead in paint, vinyl miniblinds, ceramic ware, and ceramic tubs and sinks. These testers change color to indicate the presence of lead, but do not indicate how much lead is present.
- You can take dust samples using baby wipes, paint chip samples, and soil samples and submit those to an environmental testing laboratory for analysis.
How do I remove the lead from my home?
- In most cases, persons who perform lead-based paint activities (risk assessments or abatements) are subject to Regulations For Lead-Based Paint Activities of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and must be certified.
- Persons who perform lead-based paint activities within residential dwellings that they own are exempt from the regulations unless the dwelling is occupied by someone other than the owner or the owner's immediate family while these activities are being performed, or a child with an elevated blood lead levels resides in the dwelling.
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When repainting or remodeling, avoid removing lead-based paint, unless it is badly chipped or peeling on a surface that is difficult to cover or replace, or it is on a friction or impact surface that is difficult to cover or replace.
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Replacing, covering, or reversing lead painted surfaces usually reduces lead hazards better than repainting.
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Do not dry scrape or sand, power sand, sand blast, water blast, or use an open-flame torch or heat gun to remove lead paint. These methods can create dangerous amounts of lead dust and fumes.
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Instead, wet scrape surfaces with a draw scraper with a wet cloth wrapped around its head and/or use a liquid paint remover without methylene chloride.
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Children or pregnant women should not be near the removal of lead paint. If residents remain, work in and close off one room at a time.
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Remove carpet, furniture and personal belongings before starting work. Tape 6 mil plastic sheets over floors and remaining furniture.
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Put plastic sheets over outside surfaces and ground nearby to catch debris from lead paint removal outside.
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Before residents return, wet surfaces with a cleaning solution and use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner in the wet mode or a HEPA vacuum.
What can I do now for the lead problem?
- In most cases of childhood lead poisoning, children ingest dust or dirt contaminated with lead by putting dirty hands, toys or other items in their mouths.
- The hands of young children who stay in places where lead hazards are likely should be cleaned frequently with soap and water or baby wipes.
- If hazardous levels of lead in dust and soil are detected in or near a dwelling, it is important that the surfaces touched often by young children (especially window sills, wells, floors, and steps) be smooth, easily cleanable, and cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner at least twice a week.
- As a temporary measure to reduce a child's exposure to lead, plastic can be taped or stapled over window sills and wells accessible to children.
- Cleaning with a HEPA vacuum cleaner or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner in the wet mode (hard surfaces only) may be necessary to clean surfaces heavily contaminated with lead.
- Vinyl floor coverings are the easiest to keep clean. Carpets and rugs heavily contaminated with lead dust should be discarded.
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