Testing your home for lead is an important step to ensure a safe environment, especially if your home was built before 1978. Here are some methods you can use:
Lead Test Kits: You can purchase lead test kits from hardware stores or online. These kits typically include swabs that change color if lead is detected. There are two main types:
Sodium Sulfide Swabs: Best for light-colored paints.
If lead is detected in your home, it’s important to take immediate steps to reduce exposure and mitigate the risk. Here are some actions you can take:
Hire a Professional: Engage a certified lead abatement contractor to safely remove or contain lead hazards. They can perform tasks like removing lead-based paint, replacing contaminated soil, or encapsulating lead paint with a special coating.
Clean Thoroughly: Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces to reduce lead dust. Use a wet mop or cloth to avoid spreading dust into the air.
Seal and Repair: Fix any peeling or chipping paint. Cover lead-painted surfaces with a new coat of paint or wallpaper. Ensure that painted surfaces are in good condition to prevent lead dust from forming.
Improve Home Ventilation: Ensure your home is well-ventilated to reduce the accumulation of lead dust. Use HEPA filters in your vacuum cleaner and air purifiers to capture fine particles.
Test Water: If lead is found in your water, use a water filter certified to remove lead or switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking. Contact your local water utility for further assistance.
Soil Safety: If lead is detected in your soil, cover bare soil with grass, mulch, or other ground cover to prevent children from coming into contact with it. Avoid planting edible plants in contaminated soil.
Regular Monitoring: Continue to test your home periodically to ensure that lead levels remain low. Keep an eye on any areas that were previously treated or repaired.
Educate and Protect: Educate your family about the dangers of lead and the importance of hygiene. Ensure children wash their hands frequently, especially before eating.
Taking these steps can help create a safer environment for you and your family. If you need more detailed advice or have specific concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional or your local health department.
Lead in children's products
The following products are examples of recent recalls of children's products:
Do not let children play with vintage or antique toys that were made before 1978.
Buy toys and children's products made by major brands and sold at reputable retailers. These are more likely to be safe for children.
Lead in foods, cosmetics, and medicines
Lead can be found in some foods, cosmetics, ceremonial powders, and traditional remedies, especially those that are imported or purchased from informal or unregulated sources. Certain candy ingredients, such as chili powder and tamarind, may be a source of lead exposure. Lead can get into the candy when improperly drying, storing, and grinding the ingredients. Ink from plastic or paper candy wrappers may also contain lead that leaches or seeps into the candy. Lead has also been found in certain spices imported from informal or unregulated sources in Vietnam, India, and Syria, among other countries.
Follow these tips to protect children and pregnant women from lead exposure from these products:
Monitor FDA'srecalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts. If a product your child consumed or used has been recalled, follow recall instructions and follow up with your child's healthcare provider about whether blood lead testing is needed.
Only use imported foods, medicines, and cosmetics that are clearly labeled and bought from reputable retailers.
Avoid using traditional medicines and cosmetics, such as azarcon, greta, pay-loo-ah traditional medicines, and kohl and sindoor cosmetics because they have been shown to contain lead. Traditional medicines imported from South and Southeast Asian countries may contain lead.1
Lead in vintage and antique items
Lead can also be in vintage and antique items, such as dishware, ceramic items, and furniture, that children may come in contact with. Products made before 1978 may contain lead-based paint.
Glazed ceramic pots.
Take the following steps to prevent children and pregnant women from coming into contact with lead from vintage and antique items:
Unless you are certain that the item does not contain lead, assume painted vintage and antique items may contain lead paint. Keep these items away from children and pregnant women.
Do not use vintage dishware or utensils for food service. Only use these items for food service if you are sure they do not contain lead.
Do not use lead crystal for the storage of any food or beverage.
Wash hands after working with or handling vintage and antique items.
Do not dry scrape or sand lead-containing items. Consider applying a sealant product on finished vintage and antique items to prevent the release of lead dust and debris.
The world didn't think that much about it — at least in the toy realm — until RC2 Corp. and Mattel Inc. announced massive recalls in 2007. Now, "lead" is a revived buzz word forecasting danger for young children and signaling mayhem and reform for manufacturers and retailers alike. The presence of excessive lead in children's toys has brought historic fear to present day, ignited media-fueled concern among consumers and corporations, and made the legislative record books as part of numerous proposals recommending improved toy safety standards.
TDmonthly Magazine is committed to covering recalls and issues within the toy industry that matter to its readers. For articles relating to lead and overall toy safety, see the links below:
