The Basics
Take steps to protect your family from lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing lead. Children under 6 years old and pregnant women are most at risk.
Preventing lead poisoning is important for young children because their bodies are still growing. Lead can cause learning and behavior problems. Some of the effects of lead poisoning may never go away.
Most lead poisoning comes from paint in homes built before 1978. When old paint chips and cracks, it creates lead dust. Children get lead poisoning from swallowing dust on their hands and toys.
Keep your family safe from lead.
Here’s what you can do to
keep your family safe [PDF – 674 KB].
- If you live in an older home, have your home inspected for lead paint.
- Keep children and pregnant women away from lead paint.
- Wash your children's hands and toys often.
- Ask a doctor to test your child for lead.
Take Action!
Keep your family safe from lead.
Keep children away from lead dust.
- Keep children away from rooms with chipping or peeling paint.
- Cover peeling or chipping paint with duct tape or contact paper.
- Use a wet paper towel to clean up dust, especially around windows and floors.
If you are doing any home remodeling or repairs, be sure to follow
lead–safe work practices [PDF – 3.25 MB].
Keep pregnant women and children away from the work area.
Test your home for lead.
If you live in a home built before 1978, have your home tested for lead paint by a licensed lead inspector. For more information,
contact your local health department.
The health department may inspect your home for free.
Wash your child's hands and toys.
Wash toys and hands often, especially before eating and sleeping.
Test your child for lead.
If you are worried about lead poisoning, ask a doctor to test your child for lead. A lead test is the only way to know for sure if your child has lead poisoning.