Many people believe lead poisoning is no longer a threat, yet millions of homes contain lead based paint. Reading about the history of lead based paint in the United Sates will help you understand why! Learn how to assess your home for lead and what to do if a threat exists.
There are an estimated 300,000-400,000 children in the United States with lead poisoning. These numbers are down two-thirds of what they were a decade ago. Although education and public awareness programs have had a significant impact on the number of children with lead poisoning, the numbers remain high. The National Safety Council estimates 39 million homes are still at risk.
Uses of Lead
The oldest known use of lead was in Turkey. Around 6500 B.C. a statue of lead was erected. During the Roman Empire lead was used to line drinking vessels, utensils and glaze ceramic pottery. In more recent years, lead had been used to produce paint, protect healthcare workers from radiation, for ammunition and fishing weights. It is used to solder copper water lines and make batteries.
White lead pigment was developed in the 17th century. Lead production was a laborious process and many workers became ill and died from lead exposure. Lead was recognized to cause illness and death over a century ago but lead poisoning continues to plague the United States today.