• Lead Paint was banned in U.S. residential paint in 1978.
  (It was banned in France and many other countries prior to 1920.)
• Three-quarters of the nation's housing contains lead paint. 
• Lead poisoning is a serious disease. 
• Children under six are most at risk.
• Children from every region, race, and socioeconomic level are at risk 
• Lead poisoning causes learning and developmental disabilities. 
• There are usually no symptoms. 
• Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their blood. 
• Lead poisoning is preventable. 
• Most lead poisoning happens at home. 
• The primary cause is tiny particles of lead dust from deteriorated paint or from painted surfaces disturbed during remodeling, repair or renovation. 
• Lead dust is invisible, so tiny in fact that it passes through most masks & filters. 
• Lead poisoning affects adults as well as kids. 


[Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Centers for Disease Control, National Conference of State Legislators, Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning]

Childhood lead poisoning is the number one environmental health risk facing children in industrialized countries today. In the United States, more than three million children age six and younger-- that's one out of every six children -- already has toxic levels of lead in their bodies. 

Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that hurts almost all body organs, particularly the kidneys, red blood cells, and central nervous system. In young children, lead retards the development of the central nervous system and brain. 

Even tiny amounts can cause reduced IQ, reading and learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavioral problems. As a result, childhood lead poisoning is associated with lower educational achievement, higher rates of high school drop-out and increased behavioral problems. In the long run, children who are lead poisoned may be less likely to be positive contributors to our communities. It is estimated that lead poisoning has tripled the number of children needing special education. 

Most children are poisoned by lead-based paint in their home. 

Today, most children are poisoned by ingesting leaded household dust. This dust is created when lead paint deteriorates from age, exposure to the elements, from water damage, friction -- such as the opening of windows or the rubbing of a tight door -- or during home renovation. Many home owners are not aware of the hazards of lead and unknowingly poison their own children. 

Lead is also often found in water, especially in homes with faucets or fittings made of brass (which contain lead) or, pipes with lead soldered joints. For more information go to WATER

How do you determine if you have lead in your home? 

As a rule, the older the building, the more likely it is that it has lead. According to HUD ... 

• 90% of pre-1940 buildings have lead. 
• 80% of pre-1960 and, 
• 62% of pre-1978 buildings have lead.

A selection of Downloadable FACT SHEETS is Available at DOWNLOAD

For Information about Lead-related RULES & REGULATIONS go to UPDATE

For Information about LEAD TESTING go to TESTING

For Information about LEAD HAZARDS when RENOVATING go to REMODELING

For Answers to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS go to FAQs