Environmental Health Student Portal
Connecting School Students to Environmental Health Information

Lead

How old is your home? If it was built before 1978, it probably contains some lead-based paint, and that can be dangerous. Lead-based paint and contaminated dust are the main sources of lead poisoning for children in the United States. The good news is, it’s preventable.

Lead is a soft, highly toxic, bluish-white metal that occurs naturally. It can be found in paint, glazes, lead crystal, old plumbing pipes, and fishing sinkers. It has also been found in some toys and jewelry.

Until about 30 years ago, lead was used a lot in house paint, pesticides, and gasoline. Since then, Federal laws have placed limits on its use, but it still lingers in the environment. Peeling paint chips and dust containing lead in older homes may be toxic. In addition, lead can get into the water when old plumbing pipes are still in use.

Lead can make you sick. It gets into your body if you inhale contaminated dust or eat paint chips or soil that contains lead, or if you drink contaminated water. Lead can also get into your body by sucking on your fingers after playing in the dirt or dust. Babies and children can also be exposed when playing with contaminated toys. Lead can cause growing, learning, and hearing problems, and it harms many systems in the body.

To prevent lead poisoning, we have to prevent exposure.

In this section of the Web site, learn how to protect yourself from lead by discovering where lead can be found in your home and neighborhood.

For poisoning emergencies or questions about possible poisons, please contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Explore links at the right to:

• Read how Maggie solved a lead problem in an interactive story at Enviromysteries
• Discover the symptoms of lead poisoning
• Find out where lead could be in your home
• Discover ways to test for lead in your environment
• Learn what to do if you think lead is in your home
• Get a free copy of the booklet "How Mother Bear Taught the Children about Lead," which is colorfully illustrated and full of activities
• Join young detectives in the Lead Busters Club on a search for lead in their neighborhood
• Play the Lead Busters’ Clubhouse game and interactive word search