Lead is found in paint, soil, household dust, drinking water, places of employment and other miscellaneous items. 

PAINT: Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint.

• Wood Windows, Casing, and Windowsill – both interior and exterior, the exterior can be a bigger problem if the paint is non-intact and is covered by a storm window, the lead-contaminated dust accumulates in the window trough and on the windowsill.   In older homes, the windowsills are located at the height of a child, making it a “mouth-able” area.
• Wood Doors and Casings – like windows, is considered a friction and impact hazard.
• Plaster Walls – Often lead was not only used as the surface paint but also mixed in with the plaster itself.   Most common walls with lead hazard is found in the kitchen and bathrooms, as lead was used as a means to control water damage and mold.
• Stairs, railings, and banisters – rubber treads or other covering over intact paint is recommended.
• Porches and fences.
• Exterior – wood trim around windows, doors, soffits, and gutters, brick and wood exterior wall, and metal roof and gutters.

    Note: In homes built before 1978, treat peeling paint as a lead hazard unless proven otherwise.  

SOIL: Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint and other sources such as the past use of leaded gasoline in automobiles.  Lead will stay in the soil for a very long time, especially in the top 1-3 inches of soil.

• Remove any visible paint chips from yard.
• Cover bare areas with sod or other materials.
• Create a raised bed with new soil for any gardens. Keep them at a distance from older buildings or any busy streets or driveways.

HOUSEHOLD DUST: Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home, lead from paint chips which one can see and lead dust which is not always visible can be a serious hazard.

• Wet wash floors and window components weekly.
• Vacuum carpets and upholstery with HEPA filter vacuum cleaner

DRINKING WATER: Even newer homes may have leaded solder.

• Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
• Run water 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used the water for a few hours.

WORK PLACE: Construction, automobile, maintenance workers, painters, renovators remodelers.   Shower and change before coming home, launder work clothes separately.

OTHER:

• Old painted toys and furniture and pewter toys.
• Food and liquids stored in crystal, glazed pottery, pewter, or porcelain.
• Hobbies – pottery, stained glass, refinishing furniture.
• Folk remedies – Mexican and Asian.   

Homes likely to contain lead-based paint hazards are:

• Older units: Lead-based paint used prior to 1950 is likely to contain higher concentrations of lead and older units are more likely to have deteriorated surfaces.
• Units in poor condition: Housing in poor condition due to substantial deferred maintenance is more likely to have deteriorated paint surfaces.
• Units renovated or maintained unsafely: Housing maintained or renovated with unsafe work practices (i.e. dry sanding of lead-based paint surfaces) can generate high levels of lead-contaminated dust.
• Units with exterior lead-contaminated soil: In areas with high levels of exterior lead-contaminated soil, the lead can be tracked into the units.

Certain surfaces are subject to damage and therefore likely to generate lead-contaminated dust, soil, and paint chips.  They are:

• Friction surfaces, such as stair treads and window sashes, are subject to abrasion or friction.
• Impact surfaces, such as door frames are subject to repeated impacts.
• Chewable surfaces are painted surfaces that contain lead and are available to children to mouth or chew.   Surfaces that pose the greatest concern include windowsills and door frames.

Please note that lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard, although leaded windows and doors in good condition may still release leaded dust do to the rubbing and friction every time the door or window is opened and closed.   Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated.