Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint. Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead. Do not try to remove lead-based paint yourself. Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.
People have many options for reducing lead hazards.
In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard. Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family. One out of every 11 children in the United States has dangerous levels of lead in their bloodstream. If your child is older than 1 year, talk to your child's pediatrician about whether he or she needs testing. Your child's pediatrician or health center can do blood tests.