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1. What is lead?

Lead is a metal found in the earth and it is a poison. For years lead was used in paint, gasoline, plumbing and many other items. Lead paint was banned from home use in 1978. If you live in a home built before 1978, there could be lead paint and dust in your home.

2. Why is lead a problem?

If a child becomes poisoned by lead it can cause problems with a child's growth, behavior and ability to learn.

3. How does a child become poisoned?

A child can get lead poisoning by swallowing or breathing in lead. Oftentimes children are poisoned by lead dust.

Since many young children spend a lot of time on the floor where lead dust collects, they can end up poisoning themselves when they put their hands and toys with lead dust on them in their mouths.

4. Is your family at risk of lead poisoning?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should have your child tested for lead.

• Do you live in or do you regularly visit a home built before 1978 with peeling or chipping paint or recent remodeling?
• Have you and your child spent any time outside of the U.S. in the past year?
• Does your child have a sibling, housemate or playmate that has an elevated blood lead level?
• Does your child eat non-food items or often put things in their mouth such as toys, keys or jewelry?
• Does your child come in contact with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead.
• Does your family use traditional medicine, health remedies, powders, cosmetics, spices or foods from other countries?
• Does your family eat food stored, cooked or served in leaded crystal, pewter or pottery from Asia or Latin America?