How Does Lead Enter Our Children's Environment and Enter Their Bodies?

Lead was used for a long time to make many products. Laws now prevent lead from being used so much. But there are still lead hazards in and around many homes. It can be found in:

Paint

In 1978 the federal government banned lead-based paint for use in homes. Homes built before 1978 probably contain lead-based paint. Lead-based paint may be a hazard if it or dust from the paint is on surfaces that children chew. Children tend to chew on surfaces that have edges which they can put in their mouths, such as:

  • windows and window sills;
  • bookcases;
  • doors and doorframes;
  • stairs, railings, and banisters;
  • porches and fences;
  • radiators and pipes; and
  • cribs and playpens.

Children sometimes eat paint chips, but this is very rare. They are more likely to be poisoned through lead dust.

Dust

Lead dust is the most common way that people are exposed to lead. Inside the home, most lead dust comes from chipping and flaking paint or when paint is scraped, sanded, or disturbed during home remodeling. Chipping and peeling paint is found mostly on surfaces that rub or bump up against another surface. These surfaces include doors and windows. Lead dust can also get into the air and settle onto other things when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.

Most young children get their exposure to lead from lead dust by getting it on their hands, toys, or other objects and then putting any of these in their mouths. Furniture, window sills and window wells can also produce lead dust, which people can breathe in from the air.

Soil

Before 1986 companies used to add lead to gasoline. Lead particles escaped from car exhaust systems and went into the air and fell onto soil near roads. The lead is still there today and often at high levels.

Today, metal smelting, battery manufacturing, and other factories still use lead. This lead gets into the air and then mixes with the soil near homes located near one of these sources.

Another source of lead in soil is flaking lead-based paint on the outside of buildings. Lead from paint chips and peeling paint can get into the soil close to buildings. This often happens during home remodeling if workers are not careful.

Children can be exposed to high levels of lead from soil by putting their hands or toys in the soil when they play outside and then putting their hands or toys in their mouths. They may also put plants and rocks in their mouths or eat the soil directly.

Household water

Homes built before 1930 often have lead pipes. Older plumbing parts such as faucets, fittings, and pipes may contain lead. Older water well pumps made with brass or bronze parts may also contain lead. Copper pipes are now used in most homes, but lead solder may have been used to connect these pipes. In 1986 and 1988 laws were passed to prevent the use of lead in pipes, solder, and other plumbing parts. Some new brass faucets and fixtures, however, may still contain small amounts of lead. Lead is most likely to get into warm water that is soft or acidic.

Lead gets in the body when people eat or drink food or water with lead in it. Lead in drinking water is most harmful for babies who drink formula mixed with water containing lead.

Workplace and Hobbies

People exposed to lead at work may bring lead home on their clothes, shoes, hair, or skin. Some jobs that expose people to lead include home improvement, painting and refinishing, car or radiator repair, plumbing, construction, welding and cutting, electronics, demolition, municipal waste incineration, battery manufacturing, lead compound manufacturing, rubber products and plastics manufacturing, lead smelting and refining, working in brass or bronze foundries, and working with scrap metal. Some hobbies also use lead. These hobbies include making pottery, stained glass, fish sinkers, bullets, and refinishing furniture.

Lead-glazed ceramics, china, leaded crystal glassware

Lead may get into food and liquid that has been stored in ceramics, pottery, china, and crystal that has lead in it. Lead-glazed ceramics usually come from other countries. There is no way to accurately tell by just looking at a whether a piece contains dangerous amounts of lead. One way is to look for old pieces or corrosion. However, the best way is to purchase lead-testing kits (available in drugstores or by mail order).

Folk medicines and cosmetics

Some folk medicines contain lead. Two examples are Greta and Azarcon. Azarcon is a bright orange powder also known as Maria Luisa, Rueda, Alarcon, and Coral. Greta is a yellow powder. Azarcon and Greta are used to treat an upset stomach. Pay-loo-ah also contains lead. It is a red powder used to treat a rash or a fever. Other folk medicines that contain lead include Bala (or Bala Goli), Golf, Ghasard, Kandu, and Litargirio. Some cosmetics such as Kohl (or AlKohl) and Surma also contain lead.

Other common sources of lead

Batteries, radiators for cars and trucks, and some colors of ink contain lead. Antique pewter, curtain and window weights, crayons from other countries, calcium supplements, old playground equipment, and hair dyes may also contain lead.

  • Food cans: In 1995 the United States banned the use of lead solder on cans. But lead solder can still be found on cans made in other countries that are sold in the U.S. These cans are usually made from three pieces soldered together. The cans usually have wide seams. The silver-gray solder along the seams contains the lead. Cans containing lead may be brought to the United States and sold. Over time the lead gets into the food. This happens faster after the can has been opened. Foods that are acidic cause lead to get into the food faster.
  • Mini-blinds: Some non-glossy, vinyl mini-blinds from other countries contain lead. To detect lead, purchase a home testing kit (available in drugstores or by mail order/online).
  • Toys and jewelry

Return to "The facts on lead poisoning"