| Dangers of Lead Paint in Your Home
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| | soil for lead.
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| List of guidelines from EPA
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| | If you suspect that your house has lead
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| There are still homes built prior to 1978
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| | hazards, you can take some immediate
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| that could have a lead paint hazard. The
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| | steps to reduce your family's risk:o If
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| federal government banned lead-based
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| | you rent, notify your landlord of peeling
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| paint from housing in 1978.
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| | or chipping paint.o Clean up paint chips
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| Lead can be found:
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| | immediately.o Clean floors, window
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| In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up
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| | frames, window sills, and other surfaces
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| lead from exterior paint, or other
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| | weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel
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| sources such as past use of leaded gas in
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| | with warm water and a general all-purpose
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| cars.)
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| | cleaner or a cleaner made specifically
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| Household dust. (Dust can pick up lead
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| | for lead. REMEMBER: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND
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| from deteriorating lead-based paint or
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| | BLEACH PRODUCTS TOGETHER SINCE THEY CAN
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| from soil tracked into a home.)
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| | FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.o Thoroughly rinse
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| Drinking water. Your home might have
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| | sponges and mop heads after cleaning
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| plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call
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| | dirty or dusty areas.o Wash children's
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| your local health department or water
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| | hands often, especially before they eat
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| supplier to find out about testing your
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| | and before nap time and bed time.o Keep
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| water. You cannot see, smell, or taste
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| | play areas clean. Wash bottles,
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| lead, and boiling your water will not get
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| | pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals
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| rid of lead. If you think your plumbing
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| | regularly.o Keep children from chewing
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| might have lead in it:
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| | window sills or other painted surfaces.o
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| The job. If you work with lead, you could
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| | Clean or remove shoes before entering
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| bring it home on your hands or clothes.
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| | your home to avoid tracking in lead from
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| Shower and change clothes before coming
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| | soil.o Make sure children eat nutritious,
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| home. Launder your work clothes
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| | low-fat meals high in iron and calcium,
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| separately from the rest of your family's
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| | such as spinach and dairy products.
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| clothes.
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| | Children with good diets absorb less
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| Old painted toys and furniture.
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| | lead.
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| Food and liquids stored in lead crystal
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| | In addition to day-to-day cleaning and
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| or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
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| | good nutrition:o You can temporarily
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| Lead smelters or other industries that
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| | reduce lead hazards by taking actions
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| release lead into the air.
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| | such as repairing damaged painted
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| Lead from paint chips, which you can see,
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| | surfaces and planting grass to cover soil
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| and lead dust, which you can't always
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| | with high lead levels. These actions
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| see, can be serious hazards. Peeling,
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| | (called "interim controls") are not
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| chipping, chalking, or cracking
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| | permanent solutions and will need ongoing
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| lead-based paint is a hazard and needs
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| | attention.o To permanently remove lead
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| immediate attention. Lead-based paint
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| | hazards, you must hire a certified lead
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| may also be a hazard when found on
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| | "abatement" contractor. Abatement (or
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| surfaces that children can chew or that
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| | permanent hazard elimination) methods
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| get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas
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| | include removing, sealing, or enclosing
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| include: Windows and window sills, Doors
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| | lead-based paint with special materials.
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| and door frames, Stairs, railings, and
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| | Just painting over the hazard with
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| banisters and Porches and fences.
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| | regular paint is not enough.o Always hire
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| Lead dust can form when lead-based paint
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| | a person with special training for
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| is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated.
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| | correcting lead problems--someone who
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| Dust also forms when painted surfaces
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| | knows how to do this work safely and has
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| bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust
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| | the proper equipment to clean up
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| can get on surfaces and objects that
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| | thoroughly. Certified contractors will
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| people touch. Settled lead dust can
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| | employ qualified workers and follow
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| re-enter the air when people vacuum,
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| | strict safety rules set by their state or
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| sweep, or walk through it.
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| | the federal government.o Contact the
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| Lead in soil can be a hazard when
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| | National Lead Information Center(NLIC)
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| children play in bare soil or when people
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| | for help with locating certified
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| bring soil into the house on their shoes.
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| | contractors in your area and to see if
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| Contact the National Lead Information
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| | financial assistance is available.
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| Center (NLIC) to find out about testing
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