Protect

Your

Family

From

Lead In

Your

Home

United States

Environmental

Protection Agency

United States

Consumer Product

Safety Commission

U.S. EPA Washington DC 20460 EPA747-K-99-001

U.S. CPSC Washington DC 20207 April 1999

U.S. HUD Washington DC 20410

United States

Department of Housing

and Urban Development
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have

paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead

from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health

hazards if not taken care of properly. 

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information

before renting, buying, or renovating pre-1978 housing:

LANDLORDS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based

paint hazards before leases take effect.

Leases must include a disclosure form

about lead-based paint.

SELLERS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based

paint hazards before selling a house. Sales

contracts must include a disclosure form

about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to

10 days to check for lead hazards.

RENOVATORS have to give you this

pamphlet before starting work. (After 

June 1, 1999.)

IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION

on these requirements, call the

National Lead Information Clearinghouse

at 1-800-424-LEAD.

Are You Planning To Buy, Rent, or Renovate

a Home Built Before 1978?

This document is in the public domain. It may be reproduced by an individual or

organization without permission. Information provided in this booklet is based

upon current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented and

is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes governing

the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that can

be caused by lead exposure.
IMPORTANT!

Lead From Paint, Dust, and

Soil Can Be Dangerous If Not

Managed Properly

FACT: Lead exposure can harm young

children and babies even before they

are born.

FACT: Even children who seem healthy can

have high levels of lead in their bodies.

FACT: People can get lead in their bodies by

breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by

eating soil or paint chips containing

lead.

FACT: People have many options for reducing

lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based

paint that is in good condition is not a

hazard.

FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly

can increase the danger to your family.

If you think your home might have lead

hazards, read this pamphlet to learn some

simple steps to protect your family.

1
2

People can get lead in their body if they:

u Put their hands or other objects

covered with lead dust in their mouths.

u Eat paint chips or soil that contains

lead.

u Breathe in lead dust (especially during

renovations that disturb painted

surfaces).

Lead is even more dangerous to children

than adults because:

u Babies and young children often put

their hands and other objects in their

mouths. These objects can have lead

dust on them.

u Children’s growing bodies absorb more

lead.

u Children’s brains and nervous systems

are more sensitive to the damaging

effects of lead.

Lead Gets in the Body in Many Ways

In the

United

States,

about

900,000

children ages

1 to 5 have a

blood-lead

level above

the level of

concern. 

Even children

who appear

healthy can

have dangerous levels of

lead in their

bodies.
3

Lead’s Effects

If not detected early, children with high

levels of lead in their bodies can suffer

from:

u Damage to the brain and

nervous system

u Behavior and learning

problems (such as hyperactivity)

u Slowed growth

u Hearing problems

u Headaches

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults

can suffer from:

u Difficulties during pregnancy

u Other reproductive problems (in both

men and women)

u High blood pressure

u Digestive problems

u Nerve disorders

u Memory and concentration problems

u Muscle and joint pain

Lead affects

the body in

many ways.
4

Many homes built before 1978 have leadbased paint. The federal government

banned lead-based paint from housing in

1978. Some states stopped its use even

earlier. Lead can be found:

u In homes in the city, country, or suburbs.

u In apartments, single-family homes, and

both private and public housing.

u Inside and outside of the house. 

u 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.)

To reduce your child's exposure to lead,

get your child checked, have your home

tested (especially if your home has paint

in poor condition and was built before

1978), and fix any hazards you may have.

Children's blood lead levels tend to increase

rapidly from 6 to 12 months of age, and

tend to peak at 18 to 24 months of age.

Consult your doctor for advice on testing

your children. A simple blood test can

detect high levels of lead. Blood tests are

usually recommended for:

u Children at ages 1 and 2.

u Children or other family members who

have been exposed to high levels of lead.

u Children who should be tested under

your state or local health screening plan.

Your doctor can explain what the test results

mean and if more testing will be needed.

Get your

children and

home tested

if you think

your home

has high levels of lead.

Checking Your Family for Lead

Where Lead-Based Paint Is Found

In general,

the older your

home, the

more likely it

has leadbased paint.
5

Lead-based paint that is in good condition

is usually not a hazard.

Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking

lead-based paint is a hazard and needs

immediate attention.

Lead-based paint may also be a hazard

when found on surfaces that children can

chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear.

These areas include:

u Windows and window sills.

u Doors and door frames.

u Stairs, railings, and banisters.

u Porches and fences.

Lead dust can form when lead-based paint

is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust

also forms when painted surfaces

bump or rub together. Lead chips and

dust can get on surfaces and objects

that people touch. Settled lead dust

can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.

Lead in soil can be a hazard when

children play in bare soil or when

people bring soil into the house on

their shoes. Call your state agency

(see page 11) to find out about testing soil for lead.

Where Lead Is Likely To Be a Hazard

Lead from

paint chips,

which you

can see, and

lead dust,

which you

can’t always

see, can both

be serious

hazards. 
6

You can get your home checked for lead hazards in one of two ways, or both:

u A paint inspection tells you the lead

content of every different type of painted

surface in your home. It won’t tell you

whether the paint is a hazard or how you

should deal with it.

u A risk assessment tells you if there are

any sources of serious lead exposure

(such as peeling paint and lead dust). It

also tells you what actions to take to

address these hazards.

Have qualified professionals do the work.

There are standards in place for certifying

lead-based paint professionals to ensure the

work is done safely, reliably, and effectively.

Contact your state lead poisoning prevention

program for more information. Call 1-800-

424-LEAD for a list of contacts in your area.

Trained professionals use a range of methods

when checking your home, including:

u Visual inspection of paint condition and

location.

u A portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF)

machine.

u Lab tests of paint samples.

u Surface dust tests.

Home test kits for lead are available, but

studies suggest that they are not always

accurate. Consumers should not rely on

these tests before doing renovations or to

assure safety.

Checking Your Home for Lead Hazards

Just knowing

that a home

has leadbased paint

may not tell

you if there

is a hazard.
7

If you suspect that your house has lead

hazards, you can take some immediate

steps to reduce your family’s risk:

u If you rent, notify your landlord of

peeling or chipping paint.

u Clean up paint chips immediately.

u Clean floors, window frames, window

sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a

mop or sponge with warm water and a

general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner

made specifically for lead. REMEMBER:

NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH

PRODUCTS TOGETHER SINCE THEY

CAN FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.

u Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop

heads after cleaning dirty or dusty

areas. 

u Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time

and bed time.

u Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles,

pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals

regularly.

u Keep children from chewing window

sills or other painted surfaces.

u Clean or remove shoes before

entering your home to avoid

tracking in lead from soil.

u Make sure children eat

nutritious, low-fat meals high

in iron and calcium, such as

spinach and dairy products.

Children with good diets absorb

less lead.

What You Can Do Now To Protect

Your Family
8

In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good

nutrition:

u You can temporarily reduce lead hazards

by taking actions such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass

to cover soil with high lead levels. These

actions (called “interim controls”) are not

permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention.

u To permanently remove lead hazards,

you must hire a certified lead “abatement” contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods

include removing, sealing, or enclosing

lead-based paint with special materials.

Just painting over the hazard with regular

paint is not enough.

Always hire a person with special training

for correcting lead problems—someone

who knows how to do this work safely and

has the proper equipment to clean up

thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ

qualified workers and follow strict safety

rules as set by their state or by the federal

government.

Call your state agency (see page 11) for

help with locating certified contractors in

your area and to see if financial assistance

is available.

How To Significantly Reduce Lead Hazards

Removing

lead 

improperly

can increase

the hazard to

your family

by spreading

even more

lead dust

around the

house. 

Always use a

professional who

is trained to

remove lead

hazards safely.
Take precautions before your contractor or

you begin remodeling or renovations that

disturb painted surfaces (such as scraping

off paint or tearing out walls):

u Have the area tested for lead-based

paint.

u Do not use a belt-sander, propane

torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry

sandpaper to remove lead-based

paint. These actions create large

amounts of lead dust and fumes. Lead

dust can remain in your home long

after the work is done.

u Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women)

out of the apartment or house until

the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can’t move your

family, at least completely seal off the

work area.

u Follow other safety measures to

reduce lead hazards. You can find out

about other safety measures by calling

1-800-424-LEAD. Ask for the brochure

“Reducing Lead Hazards When

Remodeling Your Home.” This brochure

explains what to do before, during,

and after renovations. 

If you have already completed renovations or remodeling that could have

released lead-based paint or dust, get

your young children tested and follow

the steps outlined on page 7 of this

brochure.

Remodeling or Renovating a Home With

Lead-Based Paint

If not

conducted

properly, 

certain types

of renovations can

release lead

from paint

and dust into

the air. 

9
10

u Drinking water. Your home might have

plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call

your local health department or water

supplier to find out about testing your

water. You cannot see, smell, or taste

lead, and boiling your water will not get

rid of lead. If you think your plumbing

might have lead in it:

• Use only cold water for drinking and

cooking.

• Run water for 15 to 30 seconds

before drinking it, especially if you

have not used your water for a few

hours.

u The job. If you work with lead, you

could bring it home on your hands or

clothes. Shower and change clothes

before coming home. Launder your work

clothes separately from the rest of your

family’s clothes.

u Old painted toys and furniture.

u Food and liquids stored in lead crystal

or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.

u Lead smelters or other industries that

release lead into the air.

u Hobbies that use lead, such as making

pottery or stained glass, or refinishing

furniture.

u Folk remedies that contain lead, such as

“greta” and “azarcon” used to treat an

upset stomach.

Other Sources of Lead

While paint, dust,

and soil are the

most common

lead hazards,

other lead

sources also exist.
11

The National Lead Information Center

Call 1-800-424-LEAD to learn how to protect

children from lead poisoning and for other

information on lead hazards. (Internet:

www.epa.gov/lead and www.hud.gov/lea).

For the hearing impaired, call the Federal

Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-

8339 and ask for the National Lead

Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.

EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Call 1-800-426-4791 for information about

lead in drinking water.

Consumer Product Safety

Commission Hotline

To request information on lead in

consumer products, or to report an

unsafe consumer product or a product-related injury call 1-800-638-

2772. (Internet: www@cpsc.gov).

For the hearing impaired, call TDD 1-

800-638-8270. 

For More Information

State Health and Environmental Agencies

Some cities and states have their own rules for lead-based

paint activities. Check with your state agency to see if state

or local laws apply to you. Most state agencies can also provide information on finding a lead abatement firm in your

area, and on possible sources of financial aid for reducing

lead hazards. Receive up-to-date address and phone information for state and local contacts on the Internet at

www.epa.gov/lead or contact the National Lead Information

Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.
12

EPA Regional Offices

Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts,

Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,

Vermont)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 1

Suite 1100 (CPT)

One Congress Street

Boston, MA 02114-2023 

1 (888) 372-7341

Region 2 (New Jersey, New York,

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 2

2890 Woodbridge Avenue

Building 209, Mail Stop 225

Edison, NJ 08837-3679

(732) 321-6671

Region 3 (Delaware, Washington DC,

Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West

Virginia)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 3 (3WC33)

1650 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 814-5000

Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia,

Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Tennessee)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 4

61 Forsyth Street, SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-8998

Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,

Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 5 (DT-8J)

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604-3666

(312) 886-6003

EPA Regional Offices

Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New

Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 6

1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor

Dallas, TX 75202-2733

(214) 665-7577

Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,

Nebraska)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 7

(ARTD-RALI)

901 N. 5th Street

Kansas City, KS 66101

(913) 551-7020

Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 8

999 18th Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202-2466

(303) 312-6021

Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii,

Nevada)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. Region 9

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 744-1124

Region 10 (Idaho, Oregon, Washington,

Alaska)

Regional Lead Contact

U.S. EPA Region 10

Toxics Section WCM-128

1200 Sixth Avenue

Seattle, WA 98101-1128

(206) 553-1985

Your Regional EPA Office can provide further information regarding regulations and lead protection programs.
CPSC Regional Offices

Eastern Regional Center

6 World Trade Center

Vesey Street, Room 350

New York, NY 10048

(212) 466-1612

Central Regional Center

230 South Dearborn Street

Room 2944

Chicago, IL 60604-1601

(312) 353-8260

Western Regional Center

600 Harrison Street, Room 245

San Francisco, CA 94107

(415) 744-2966

HUD Lead Office

13

Please contact HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control for information on lead regulations, outreach efforts, and lead hazard control

and research grant programs.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Lead Hazard Control

451 Seventh Street, SW, P-3206

Washington, DC 20410

(202) 755-1785

Your Regional CPSC Office can provide further information regarding regulations and consumer product safety.
90

Recycled/Recyclable

Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.

If you think your home has high

levels of lead:

u Get your young children tested for lead, even if

they seem healthy.

u Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys

often.

u Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods.

u Get your home checked for lead hazards.

u Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other

surfaces.

u Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.

u Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with

peeling or chipping paint.

u Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust

when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-

LEAD for guidelines).

u Don’t use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun,

dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces

that may contain lead.

u Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself.

Simple Steps To Protect Your Family

From Lead Hazards