Lead poisoning isn't a thing of the past. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that houses built before 1978, the year lead-based paint for home use was banned, likely still contain some lead-based paint. Approximately 24 million housing units have deteriorated lead paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust.
Here are some lead poisoning prevention tips.
1. Home renovations. Pregnant women and children should avoid being in houses built before 1978 that are being renovated. They also shouldn't be involved in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris.
2. Water. Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher lead levels.
3. Lead sources. Familiarize yourself with all the sources of lead poisoning, including artificial turf, toys, and folk medicine.
Here are some lead poisoning prevention tips.
1. Home renovations. Pregnant women and children should avoid being in houses built before 1978 that are being renovated. They also shouldn't be involved in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris.
2. Water. Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher lead levels.
3. Lead sources. Familiarize yourself with all the sources of lead poisoning, including artificial turf, toys, and folk medicine.
If your home was built before 1978 and you are concerned about the possibility of paint chips or dust containing lead, consider purchasing do-it-yourself test kits. These test kits cannot distinguish between low and high levels of lead and it may be difficult to get accurate readings on surfaces with multiple levels of paint.
The Colorado Department of Health has recently updated their Lead Services Directory, which is a great resource to find certified services for your home. In northern Colorado and Fort Collins the Colorado State University Extension office has a created a webpage with very helpful lead information.
*some content Adapted from a previous edition of The Green REsource newsletter
The Colorado Department of Health has recently updated their Lead Services Directory, which is a great resource to find certified services for your home. In northern Colorado and Fort Collins the Colorado State University Extension office has a created a webpage with very helpful lead information.
*some content Adapted from a previous edition of The Green REsource newsletter
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