Since the government banned lead in paint for residential housing in 1978, the dangers of lead poisoning are a thing of the past, right? Unfortunately, that assumption is wrong. Lead paint can still be found in structures built before 1978, and a large percentage of homes in central Arkansas  fall into this category. If your home is one of them, your family may be at risk for lead poisoning by breathing or ingesting lead dust.

Look out for hazards

Lead poses dangers to young and old. In adults, it can cause high blood pressure, hypertension and reproductive issues. Children are especially vulnerable: For them, very small amounts can result in learning disabilities, behavior issues, lower intelligence, hearing and memory loss, brain damage, and even death.

“Arkansas has a number of communities with many homes built before 1978. This may mean lead hazards for children and adults are present and can increase during renovation activities,” said Dr. Alesia Ferguson, PhD, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Chipped, cracked or peeling paint surfaces can produce dust particles, and if the area is covered with lead-based paint, the dust particles will contain lead as well—even if the lead-based paint has layers of new paint over it. Areas that wear down from repeated friction, such as opening or closing doors or windows, can also yield lead dust.

Lead dust can also spread throughout a home when walls or other painted surfaces are sanded, scraped or torn down. Chipping or flaking paint on exterior surfaces can get tracked into the house and ground into a carpeted surface.

Anyone who’s spent time around small children knows that what they touch often goes in their mouths, and that’s also an easy way for lead dust to get into their systems. Pregnant women who breathe in high levels of lead dust can transmit lead to their unborn children, causing serious damage.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, use lead-safe work practices:

• Practice healthy home habits, such as hand-washing before eating and sleeping

• Wash children’s toys or other chewable surfaces frequently

• Wet mop and dry floors and other surfaces; remove shoes before leaving the work area

• Be sure children eat balanced meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables

• Hire a certified professional to safely remove lead sources from a home. Find certified lead professionals near you at www.epa.gov/lead.

Dr. Ferguson suggests children get tested for blood lead levels, which your doctor should be able to perform. If tests indicate your child has been exposed to lead, ask your doctor for information on treatment options.