Later household paints may test positive for lead, but generally contain much smaller amounts. You will need to find the concentration of lead in your paint to determine the level of risk. If your chip contains 5,000 ppm or more, you will need to take action to make your apartment safe. A common response to a positive lead test is to strip the old paint. This would be the greatest danger for your pregnant wife and future child.
Lead poisoning is very common during remodeling.
Use a contractor skilled in lead abatement to enclose or remove the lead from your apartment. For information on finding such a contractor, and finding local laboratories that can test lead concentration in your apartment, contact your local Health Department and ask for the Department of Environmental Health. Lead specialists are available through this hotline to answer your questions and will send you detailed information on preventing lead poisoning. Since the chip tested positive for lead, it is wise not to place a crib, play-pen, or high chair where paint is peeling or can be chewed. Keep your apartment as dust free as possible, regularly wet mopping the floors.