Lead | New Living

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is used in building construction.

Is there a health risk?

Lead has been found to be both a poison and a neurotoxin, and therefore its use in most products has been banned.
Many health agencies agree that inhaling or swallowing lead or lead particles can lead to variety of serious health problems, including:

Neurological disorders
High blood pressure
Reproductive problems

Lead is particularly hazardous to children and can cause significant damage to a child’s developing brain and nervous system. This can result in behavioral problems and learning disorders.

Where could I find this in my home?

Lead can be found in interior and exterior paint and water pipes in older homes, as well as some stoneware and vinyl products. Lead can also leach into the soil around your home.

What can I do?

If your home has paint or pipes from before 1978, then you should have been informed when purchasing your home (due to federal regulations). However, if you were not informed or if you suspect there is lead in your home you should have your home tested by a specialist.

There are two different types of test you may want to get:

A paint inspection test – this will tell you if your home has lead based paint and where it is located, however, it does not tell you if your home has any lead hazards.
A risk assessment test – this will tell you if your home has any lead lead hazards like paint, dust, or soil. It will also tell you what you should do.

Resources

To ensure that you hire a trained specialist you can either call 1-800-424-LEAD or your local Consumer Product Safety Commission to find trained lead inspectors in your area.