Lead can be found in many places within your home, and even on the outside of your home. The following resources will help you find where lead may be hiding.
Lots of experts think that lead in house dust and dirt around the house is a big reason why kids get exposed to lead. A lot of this lead comes from old gasoline and paint that had lead in them, but we stopped using those a long time ago.
Even so, lead is still in the soil, dust, and old paint in many homes and can be dangerous. It’s a good idea to check the paint, dirt, and dust in and around your house to see if there’s lead in them.
This is because lead was often added to paint used in homes built before 1978. In 1978, the federal government banned the use of lead-based paint in homes. The older the home, the more likely it is to have lead-based paint.
It is important to understand that lead-contaminated dust is created when lead-based paint in older homes chips, flakes, and peels.
This dust can get on hands, toys, clothes, fabric, and more around the house.
When lead pipes near or in your house are disturbed or fixed, lead can get into the water that flows through these pipes.
If your home has lead pipes, think about cleaning the little screen at the end of the faucet (aerator), running the water for a bit to clear the pipes (flushing), or using a special water filter approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to take out lead.
Lead can get into drinking water when old water pipes, taps, and parts in the house wear down or corrode.
Experts suggest people living in Kent County should use a water filter that can reduce lead if their house has any of these things, or if they’re not sure:
Give yourself peace of mind by putting a lead-safe filter on your kitchen tap or using a pitcher with a lead-safe filter.
Families can get a free filter if their home has a lead pipe or lead plumbing and they meet these requirements:
Fuller Clinic (Main)
700 Fuller Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Cherry Health
Heart of the City Health Center
100 Cherry St SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Look at their map to find out if you have lead pipes going to your house.
The natural lead in soil can be increased by the peeling paint from old buildings, past use of leaded gasoline, and industrial emissions, which pose a health risk. Children are especially vulnerable as they can ingest or inhale lead through play. This toxin can also enter homes on shoes or be absorbed by homegrown produce.
Prolonged exposure to lead, even in small amounts, can cause severe health issues, especially in young children.
Lead in soil can be breathed in or swallowed by children when playing outside in the dirt and can be tracked into the home.
Lead can also be encountered in food grown in contaminated soil. Some fruits or vegetables can even absorb lead from the soil.
Lead can be found in surprising places around the house, like in some toys, jewelry, or old furniture paint. It’s important to know this because lead is harmful, especially to kids. Checking household items for lead helps keep everyone safe and healthy.
When you’re doing activities like fixing up homes, painting, mining, recycling batteries, working on cars, or making stained glass or pottery, it’s important to be careful about the risk of coming into contact with lead.
You might breathe in lead dust, swallow it if you don’t wash your hands, or get it on you by touching materials that have lead. It’s really important to know that even a little bit of lead in your body can be bad for you. So, being careful when you’re doing these kinds of work or hobbies is a big deal for keeping healthy.
