Paint- 75% of houses and other buildings built before 1978 have lead-based paint. When the paint is in good condition it does not pose a threat. When it chips and peels however, it can make a child very ill. One source of lead poisoning is from children putting small chips of paint in their mouths. Toys, furniture, porches, fences, window sills and window wells, doors and door frames can potentially be painted with lead based paint. Lead free paint is used today and unless the lead-based paint has been removed, it can be a source of poisoning for young children.
Dust- Lead dust is a very fine, almost invisible dust. Where there is lead paint, there is potentially lead dust. Window sills and window wells are common places lead dust can be found. Children can get the dust on their hands, and if not washed off, can introduce the lead into their system by putting their hands in their mouths.
Soil- Peeling exterior paint can contaminate the soil near the foundations of homes. Lead based paints and gasoline with lead are used very little now, but in the past were mainly responsible for lead in the soil. Lead moves very slowly through the soil. It is found in its highest concentrations near building foundations and within a few feet of busy streets. Since plants do not take up large quantities of lead from the soil, concentrations of lead would have to be high to get lead poisoning from the garden. A child eating dirt would have the greatest risk of lead poisoning from the soil.
Water- In the past, lead pipes (now banned) that carried the water supply throughout homes was the cause of lead poisoning. Lead solder on copper pipes has also been known to cause lead poisoning, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for a long period of time without the pipes being flushed. Solder is now lead free but many homes have old, lead soldered pipes that continue to carry water through them.
Folk Remedies- Some folk remedies have been reported to have lead content in them. Greta and Azarcon are Hispanic remedies used for upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and teething babies. They are orange powders that have a high lead content. A brown Indian remedy, Ghasard, has also been found to contain lead. Ba-baw-san is a Chinese herbal medicine that is used to treat colic.
Candy- Lead has been found in some candy imported from Mexico. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed tighter guidelines for the import of candy into the United States. Lead has also been found in some wrappers of imported candy.
Toys- Antique toys can be a source of lead for children. Getting lead dust on their hands and putting their hands or the toy into their mouth can be dangerous. Some jewelry has lead in it. If not ingested, the lead item is no danger to a child, but if the item is put in the mouth or swallowed, it can make a child very ill. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a policy that addresses lead in children’s jewelry.
Lead can be found in ceramics and pottery, leaded crystal china, fishing sinkers, some health foods and cosmetics.