Lead

The most common source of lead exposure in children is peeling or chipping paint in the home.

Normal hand-to-mouth behavior in young children can mean ingesting lead particles from dust.
Lead exposure can be harmful to children’s brain development.
The best way to keep children safe is to remove lead from their environments.



What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal. For years, lead was used in gasoline, paint, plumbing and other items. Older homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead.  Lead can be found in many places around your home including lead dust from peeling and chipping paint, lead contaminated soil, lead in tap water, and imported products like spices, pottery,  jewelry, and toys to name a few. There is no identified safe level of lead exposure—even low levels of lead in the blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues. Protecting children and pregnant people from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. 

Blood lead levels have fallen dramatically because of regulatory efforts to limit the use of lead. Yet, lead exposure is still a serious public health problem. The most common cause of lead in the blood, even for children with lower blood lead levels, is peeling lead paint and the dust created from it. 

Children can be exposed to lead where they live, learn, and play. Sources of lead exposure can include paint from homes or buildings built before 1978, water from lead pipes , contaminated soil, some imported candies, toys, spices, herbal remedies and jewelry, and certain jobs and hobbies.

EPA: Lead Hotline – The National Lead Information Center

A child’s age, diet, health conditions, and the source and duration of lead exposure can all affect how the body absorbs and holds onto lead and what health impacts lead can have. Even low levels of lead that were once considered safe have been associated with negative changes in IQ, behavior, ability to pay attention, academic achievement, and health. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body. Children are most at risk because their bodies and minds are still developing.

Exposure to lead in pregnancy is associated with miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Exposures to lead during pregnancy can also affect the baby’s growth and development. 



A blood lead test is the best way to determine if a child has been exposed to lead. Many children exposed to lead have no symptoms.

In New York State, children are required to be tested for lead at 1 and 2 years of age.  Older children should be tested when there are concerns about lead exposure from lead paint or other lead sources. Talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s development or concerns about potential lead exposures. New York State law also requires doctors to assess the risk for lead exposure in pregnant women at the first prenatal visit. 

The lead test uses blood taken either from a finger/heel stick or from the vein. A blood lead test from the vein is often more accurate and should be used to confirm an elevated finger stick test.

The CDC uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 μg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) to identify children with blood lead levels higher than most children’s. Keep in mind that the ‘reference value’ is a statistical number that depends on the blood lead levels of the overall population, which can change. The reference value has decreased because of successful public health efforts decreasing blood lead levels for the overall population. It does not necessarily show a cutoff between harm and no harm. 

If a child has lead in their blood, a doctor may recommend actions such as finding and removing lead from your home, feeding the child a diet high in iron and calcium, connecting the child to early educational services, and follow-up blood lead testing. See more in the section below on treatments for lead exposure. 

CDC: Recommended Actions Based on Blood Lead Level

At blood lead levels below 45 μg/dL (micrograms per deciliter), the “treatment” is removing the exposure (safely fixing peeling paint and minimizing exposure to other lead sources), plus follow-up blood lead testing to ensure that the blood lead level is falling. It can sometimes be hard to find the source of lead for children with low blood lead levels.

Feeding the child a diet high in iron and calcium can limit how much lead your child’s body absorbs. Brain boosting activities like early educational services, reading, and getting enough sleep will all protect your child’s development too.

At blood lead levels above 45 μg/dL, medication may be administered under trained medical supervision in a hospital. Identifying and eliminating the source when the lead levels are this high is important to avoid on-going or increased exposure.

Be skeptical of supplements advertising themselves as “heavy metal detoxes”. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA before they are sold. The FDA can only intervene if there is concern about potential adverse health effects from taking the supplement or mislabeling. The FDA has taken action in the past against products claiming to be ‘chelators’.  If you do choose to use supplements despite these limitations, seek those products with independent certification, like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

FDA: FDA Warns Marketers of Unapproved ‘Chelation’ Drugs 

NSF: Product and Ingredient Certification

Lead in Paint

The most common cause of elevated blood lead levels, even for children with lower blood lead levels, is peeling lead paint and its dust. Lead exposure happens when one comes in contact with lead by touching, swallowing, or breathing in lead or lead dust. Children younger than 6 years of age are more likely to be exposed due to their normal hand to mouth behavior.  When younger children play on the floor and put their hands and toys in their mouth they can swallow lead dust. 

Lead-based paints were banned for use in homes in 1978 (NYC banned lead paint in 1960). Even if you have recently repainted, lead paint can still be in the underlayers of paint.  If painted surfaces are poorly maintained and begin to chip, lead dust can be released. Opening and closing older painted doors and windows can be a significant source of lead dust. 

  • Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for a free home assessment for lead hazards. 
  • Talk with your local health department, or call the EPA’s National Lead Information Center 1-800-424-LEAD, about getting your home tested for lead. 
  • To find your local health department, visit www.nysacho.org and click on ‘directory,’ or call (518) 402-7530 or 1-800-458-1158 and ask for the phone number of your local health department.
  • Lead testing contractors can be found on the EPA lead-based paint professional locator 

Lead in Drinking Water

Although your water may come from a clean source, lead can be leached into water by household pipes, faucets, and lead solder. You cannot taste, see, or smell lead in water. Infants who consume mostly mixed powder formula can receive 40-60% of their total lead exposure from drinking water. Only use cold tap water to make baby formula and for cooking and drinking. Run water for at least 30 seconds, until the water is noticeably colder.  This is especially important for water sitting in pipes overnight or for several hours. Bathing & showering are okay, since lead in water does not enter through the skin. Exercise caution in younger kids who may swallow bathwater.  

NYC residents can request a free Lead Test Kit for Drinking Water from 311. If you live outside of NYC, check with your local health department to see if they offer a similar program. There is also a scratch test you can do to see if your pipes are made of lead (see link below).

NYC: Free Lead Test Kit for Drinking Water

EPA: Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead (Scratch Test)

Lead in Paint

Keep your children away from peeling paint. Home repairs and renovations, such as sanding or scraping paint on the inside and outside of homes built before 1978, can release lead dust. Repairs should be done by EPA Lead Safe Certified contractors to minimize the release of lead dust. If it is an option for you, you may consider staying somewhere else while remediation work is done. When the work is done, there should be clearance dust wipe samples to make sure the apartment is clean. 

  • Renters: If peeling paint is present, talk to your landlord. Depending on where you live, other resources might be available (see column on the right). 
  • Homeowners: Fix peeling paint and make home repairs safely. Your local department of health can provide information on lead-safe methods. Make sure to hire EPA certified contractors for renovations who are trained in lead-safe practices. (use the EPA lead-based paint professional locator). 

See below to learn more about actions you can take for common sources of lead exposure. 

Regularly wet-mop and wet dust floors, windows, and windowsills. Use contact paper or duct tape to cover chipping or peeling paint. Wash hands before eating and sleeping. 

Brain boosting activities are protective. Sleep, exercise, and early enrichment programs can also support your child’s development. Reading, singing, and socializing, for example, are all beneficial. 

Give your child healthy foods. Feed your child healthy foods with calcium, iron, and vitamin C. These foods may help keep lead out of the body. Calcium is in milk, yogurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables like spinach. Iron is in lean red meats, beans, peanut butter, and cereals. Vitamin C is in oranges, green and red peppers, and juice.  

Run cold-water tap for at least 30 seconds, until the water is noticeably colder, before using it. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead, and could increase lead concentration by evaporating water.

 Lead in Paint

  • Clean window sills, floors, play areas, and dusty places with wet mops, wet cloths or wet paper towels. Do not dry sweep. 
  • Wash children’s hands, toys, and pacifiers often with soap and water. Always wash hands before eating and sleeping and after playing 
  • Keep chipping and peeling paint out of reach of children until repairs are made. Temporary measures including  covering chipping or peeling paint with duct tape or contact paper; blocking access to the area with furniture.

Lead in Drinking Water

  • Run your tap until the water is noticeably colder, before using it for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula any time a faucet has not been used for several hours. 
  • Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water can increase lead concentration because the water evaporates and leaves the lead behind. 
  • Remove and clean the faucet screen (aerator) regularly, where small particles can get trapped.
  • Replace plumbing fixtures if they are found to contain lead. You can find certified lead safe products at the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) website at info.nsf.org.
  • If you may have lead in your water, use bottled water to mix baby formula. 

NSF: Lead Content Certified Products

Lead in Consumer Products

Lead has been used for a long time in a wide variety of products found in and around our homes. Some toys, especially imported toys, antique toys, and toy jewelry, may contain lead. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s page for photos and descriptions of currently recalled toys. Frequently wash items your child usually puts in their mouth such as hands, toys, and pacifiers. Other possible sources of lead exposure include cosmetics, jewelry, amulets, and imported dishes, candies, spices, and foods:

  • Avoid using health remedies from other countries. 
  • Keep cosmetics and religious/cultural powders such as kohl, kajal, surma, and sindoor away from children. 
  • Avoid using imported clay pots and dishes to cook, serve, or store food, and do not use pottery that is chipped or cracked (lead can be in the glaze).
  • Avoid eating candies, spices, and foods purchased in other countries. 
  • Keep jewelry, amulets, and painted maracas away from children. 

To find out more, visit: 

CPSC: Consumer Product Safety Commission for photos and descriptions of currently recalled toys.
CDC: Lead in Consumer Products
NYC Department of Health: Hazardous Consumer Products 

Lead from Jobs and Hobbies 

Many jobs and hobbies such as construction, crafts, and use of firearms can expose people to lead. Adults in the home should keep children away from work and hobby materials, as well as clothing that could be covered in lead dust. Remove shoes and work clothes before entering the house. Wash work clothes separately from other laundry and shower when returning from these activities before playing with your child.

Jobs/hobbies that may involve lead include:

  • Construction
  • Building renovation or demolition
  • Manufacturing of items that may contain lead (bullets, fishing weights)
  • Stained glass
  • Paint (lead white artist paint)
  • Fishing weights

CDC: Lead in Jobs, Hobbies, or Other Activities

Lead in Soil

Protect soil. Cover bare soil with grass, mulch, or wood chips and prevent children from playing in bare soil that may be contaminated with lead. See the lead in soil web page for more information. 

CDC: Lead in Soil

  Prescriptions for Prevention 

Featured Rxs:
Lead Paint / Pintura a Base de Plomo

National and Statewide Resources

Albany:

Buffalo:

Hudson Valley:

New York City:  

Rochester:

Syracuse:

Updated: Emma Chang, MPH RN; July 2024