Home Exposure
Sources of Home Exposure to Lead in the Home
- Take-home lead from occupational exposure
- Soil and dust
- Some folk remedies
- Some imported herbs/spikes
- Moonshine whiskey
- Stained glass and jewelry making
- Artistic painting *
- Bullet and fishing sinker casting
- Glazing pottery *
- Home remodeling *
- Target shooting at firing ranges (indoor or outdoor)
- Lead soldering
- Auto repair
- Some ceramicware and imported knick knacks *
- Some imported vinyl mini-blinds and crayons
- Lead water pipes, lead soldered pipes, and brass and bronze plumbing fittings
- Some computer cables
- Lead-based paint *
While it is a naturally occurring metal, lead is toxic to the human body, especially to young children. Children exposed to lead long-term, even at low levels, can suffer from learning disabilities, delays in neurological and physical development, severe health effects, and mental retardation. Lead exposure can effect adult hearing, vision, and muscle coordination and damage to blood, heart, kidneys, and the reproductive system.
How Lead Exposure Occurs
Lead exposure can occur through inhalation of lead dust or fumes. Lead can
also be ingested when food, drink, and cigarettes are contaminated by lead
residue on hands, facial hair, and surfaces. Children are especially susceptible
to ingestion of lead because of constant hand-to-mouth contact and crawling/playing
on the floor. Take-home lead is brought into the home on skin, clothing,
shoes, and other items exposed to occupational lead. Lead on clothing can
contaminate the family laundry.
How Full Disclosure can Help† *
Use Full Disclosure wipes to determine if lead residue remains on skin (particularly
the hands and face) or surfaces after washing. A simple color change on the
wipe indicates the presence of lead. Rewashing and retesting until there
is no color change on the wipe can assure that the majority of lead has been
removed. Full Disclosure can be used safely on clothing, hair, shoes, cases,
or any other surface suspected to be contaminated with lead. A convenient
Lead IDC Kit is available that combines Full Disclosure lead detection with
SKC Decontamination Towels for
lead . . . Identification with Full Disclosure wipes, Decontamination with
Hygenall towels, and Confirmation of decontamination with Full Disclosure.
See Ordering for details.
For more information on Lead Exposure in the Home, go to:
- EPA — Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home (PDF)
- EPA — Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide (PDF)
- CDC — Spotlights on Lead
- HUD — Office of Helathy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
For lead-based paint *:
† Full Disclosure is intended to be used as a screening tool for the presence of lead. It simply brings the presence of lead to the attention of the user. If lead exposure is suspected and there are symptoms of lead poisoning, seek medical attention immediately. Quantitative testing may be required to determine the extent of exposure. Positive Full Disclosure wipes can be sent to a qualified laboratory for this type of testing. See Ordering for details.
* Full Disclosure will detect elemental
(pure) lead and some lead salts, it will not detect lead chromate or
alkyl lead.Full Disclosure is not intended to
detect lead in paint, paint chips, on painted surfaces, or embedded in material
such as plastic.
