But threats remain for children, who are most susceptible to the adverse effects of lead. In many homes, lead from old pipes and solder may dissolve into the water. If you have plumbing that was installed before the early 1950s, you can reduce your exposure to lead by letting the tap run for a few minutes. Use only cold water for cooking or drinking. Another avenue of exposure to small children, and perhaps the greatest, is through lead paint in older housing.
Small children tend to stick almost anything in their mouths.
If a child swallows chips of lead-based paint, exposure to lead is increased. To help protect small children, the Consumer Product Safety Commission no longer allows the sale of paints with high levels of lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that paint already existing inside and outside of buildings be tested for lead. If the lead content is high, the paint should be removed in a safe manner and replaced with a lead-free paint. State health departments often oversee public water supplies and private septic tanks in addition to duties associated with food safety.