Keep Your Home Safe: A Quick Guide to Preventing Lead Poisoning

August 26, 2026

Protecting your family from household lead is one of the most vital steps you can take for their long-term health. If your home was built before the late 1970s, toxic lead-based paint could be lurking beneath years of modern paint layers.

Lead is a heavy metal that poses severe risks—especially to children under six. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead exposure can cause permanent cognitive impairments, learning difficulties, and damage to the nervous system and kidneys.

Common Lead Sources in the Home

  • Pre-1978 Paint: Older homes often contain hidden lead-based paint layers that peel, flake, or create toxic dust.
  • Pre-1986 Plumbing: Older pipes, solder, and fixtures can leach lead directly into your drinking water.
  • Contaminated Soil: Soil around home foundations often collects lead from exterior paint chips or historical vehicle emissions.
  • Imported Goods: Certain traditional medicines, antique toys, cosmetics, and imported glazed cookware can still contain lead.

Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home from the EPA provides important information on protecting your family from lead. This easy-to-read booklet highlights the dangers of lead from paint, dust, and soil in and around your home, which can be dangerous if not managed properly. For example, children who seem healthy may have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies. The EPA recommends testing children for lead levels even if they appear healthy. Also, disturbing surfaces with lead-based paint or improperly removing it can increase the risk to your family. (The Spanish version is available here.

Taking proactive steps today ensures a safe, healthy living space for your family tomorrow.

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About the author: Blogger Trudy Hawkins is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office, supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Don’t Let Lead Take Over Your Home

October 6, 2010

Today’s guest post is by Ingrid Reyes-Arias of GPO’s Library Services and Content Management area.

Time and time again, public health educators have stressed the serious implications of lead- contaminated homes.  To educate the public about this problem, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a publication to inform and educate you about the detrimental health risks due to the environmental threat of lead. 

Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home provides important information on different forms of home protection to protect your family from lead.  For example, EPA suggests testing children for lead levels even though they may seem healthy, performing repeated and ongoing lead checks, and more.  In addition, the publication highlights many important facts.  Did you know that lead can go into your body just through breathing or swallowing lead dust? 

Not only does this publication provide facts, it also explains the effects of lead and its implications on your health, such as damage to kidneys and the nervous system, learning disabilities in children, and speech and language impediments.  After detailing the health implications and history of lead, EPA lists the steps to protect your home.  First, how do you check for lead?  There are many ways.  You can do a paint inspection, followed by a risk assessment, or hire a trained and certified testing professional.  All of these approaches will aid in protecting your family from lead. 

Lead inspection in your home is very important. Don’t let a seemingly small detail affect your home and family. These simple steps can change your life, so take a look at the important facts. Read Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home here or get copies at the GPO online bookstore.

3 Comments | Environmental Protection Agency | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by govbooktalk