Lead and Home Renovations
Homes built before 1978 probably contain lead-based paint. When the paint peels and cracks, it makes lead dust and particles. People are exposed to lead by eating lead paint chips, ingesting contaminated food or water and /or breathing in lead dust. Children younger than 6 years are more likely to be exposed due to their hand-to-mouth behavior.
Common renovation activities (like sanding, cutting, replacing windows, and more) can create hazardous lead dust. Keep children and pregnant people away from housing undergoing renovation and from participating in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up after work completed.
There is no safe blood lead level in children and even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues.
The only way to know if your child was exposed to lead is to have them tested. Testing is done at ages 1 and 2 at well-child appointments. Contact your Provider to check if your child has been tested.
According to Jean, PHN at the Langlade County Health Department “there are steps parents can take to lessen the potential exposure and protect children living in a home undergoing renovation”.
Parents or caregivers can take the following additional steps to protect family from exposure:
Talk to Provider about getting a blood lead test- it’s the best way to determine if child has been exposed to lead.
Checking home for lead hazards- peeling, chipping, cracking paint inside and outside of the home.
Regularly cleaning floors, windowsills, and other surfaces using wet methods and take precautions to avoid dust when remodeling
Remove shoes or wiping soil off shoes before entering the house.
Washing children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, toys often especially before eating, napping, after playing.
Making sure children eat nutritious meals high in calcium and iron.
Find more information about how to protect your family from lead exposure on the Lead-Safe Wisconsin webpage: dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead
###END###