About Lead

What is Lead?

Lead poisoning is very dangerous. Lead poisoning can cause permanent learning and behavior problems, but it is preventable. It is important that we protect the children in our community from lead poisoning.

Lead is a naturally occurring chemical element that was once used in paint. Lead in its pure form is a dull bluish-grey heavy metal. It is relatively soft for a metal making it a very malleable material. The use of Lead in residential paint was banned in the United States in 1978 due to the negative health impacts it causes. If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint. Lead paint becomes dangerous when it chips or wears down and creates lead dust.

Paint is not the only place you may find lead. It may also be found in:

Plumbing
Ceramics
Gasoline Additive
X-Ray Protection
Battery Components
Solder
Shot used by hunters
Some spices sourced from abroad
And Many More

Image courtesy of World Health Organization Lead Exposure infographic

Why should we care about Lead?

Lead exposure is often thought of as a problem that doesn’t exist anymore in the United States, since lead paint (above a certain amount) was banned for residential use in 1978 and leaded gasoline was taken off the market in 1996.

Yet, lead is still present in many homes across the country, as well as in other structures and products that can result in exposures. These exposures may cause irreparable harm to people, particularly children.

Want to learn more?

New York State has much information about lead and lead hazards.

Click here for more.

Image courtesy of World Health Organization Lead Exposure infographic