Advice about Lead
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
See also: Recommendations for lead inspection and removal
How dangerous is lead?
May 1998
Does anyone have any experience or information about lead poisoning? We just did a lead test in the house we rent, and found lead in both the interior and exterior paint (which is peeling and chipping). We read the pamphlets about lead provided by the EPA, which give advice on cleaning and dusting weekly to prevent the buildup of lead dust, etc. What we can't seem to find out is how dangerous lead actually is, and what are the chances of it hurting our child. If lead poisoning is such a great danger, it seems like a rather trite solution, just to paint over it and dust a lot. We don't want to move if we don't have to, but we need to know just how dangerous this is. Judith
The University does lead testing for children living in family housing or in UC operated childcare every fall. You can get alot of information down at the Tang Center regarding lead poisoning and various preventative measures. I highly encourage you to stop by there and pick up the info. Kathleen
Our 110 year old house in Alameda was treated for lead-based paint almost 2 years ago, through the auspices of the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. They tested the paint everywhere, tested the yard in places, tested the house dust, and concluded that painting over the woodwork inside and out would take care of most of it. The painted floor also had to be covered, and we opted for new wood over the old.
They arranged an *interest-free* loan that covered about 3/4 of the job (with an approved contractor), again county-subsidized. They scheduled post-abatement inspection and testing, and testing of our child (thankfully no lead!). They also provided materials that may be more explanatory than what the EPA provided.
Call them (Alameda County listings). Lead is nasty and permanent in its effects on the nervous system, but proper abatement (including re-sodding lawns after abatement) can do the job fairly affordably in most cases not involving a badly decrepit house. Situations differ, your decision may be different than ours (to abate and stay). But in any case, seek information and take action. Lead is an issue that can no longer be 'swept under the rug' given all the older housing out there, and the tight housing market. Nils
Ask your doctor to perform a blood lead level test. They jsut take some blood and check it out. Then you have a sense of how much lead has already been taken it. If it is low, don;t worry. Also, it provides a baseline and you can re-test in a year. My husband is a painter and deals with old paint all the time, so he is checked annually and since he brings dust and so on in our house, our son is tested annually. No one has elevated levels in our house and we have peeling and chipping paint too. Also, check your water and get a filter system to filter out lead (like Britta or PUR) and use if for everything (juice, coffee, boiling pasta, etc) Laura Beth
Regarding lead poisoning, the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program has an information line at 567-8280. They're located down on Oakland's Embarcadero and have very extensive information & workshops, and are often present at neighborhood fairs. They also have programs allowing for certain financial incentives to de-lead your home, although these might have changed since I was there in '92. Jean
Call the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 567-8280. They have excellent materials and you can request specific info on lead in the house, soil, and water. They also provide a list of local labs and home test kit suppliers. I used their information and a lab they recommended to test the soil in my backyard and found that paint peeling into the soil had raised lead to a level that would make it unwise to plant root vegetables such as carrots, although above-ground types are apparently ok. We also live in a rental with peeling paint. We painted over the worst spots inside. The landlord agreed to repaint the badly peeling exterior trim, and although the painter took many months to get around to finishing the job, he was very careful to catch the chips in a box as he scraped. The important thing is not to sand, which sends the lead dust into the air. I've read EPA guidelines that also say not to scrape, but how can you get the new paint to stick without scraping off the really loose stuff? You should also get a blood lead test done for your child. Susan
I used to have a friend who worked for the lead abatement program for Alameda County and also a friend with OSHA ... it is my understanding from these sources (as well as my kids' doctor) that lead poisoning is VERY VERY serious; can lead to mental retardation, anemia, and all kinds of other things. You should have your CHILD tested as well as the apartment, right away ... there are blood tests ... ask the pediatrician. I have this dim sense that someone once told me that if the kid DOES have lead in the blood there are corrective measures which can be taken, but I have no real detail ... ask your doctor.
I looked into this at one point when I was living in an old apartment. The County has funds available to help landlords who are willing to truly and properly clean up the lead hazards and you might encourage your landlord to do this. In some ways the exterior lead is even more dangerous than the interior. The interior lead paint ... to sand it down and cleared away PROPERLY is very hard to do ... your family should not be living there at the time, during the rehab work, the lead dust needs to be contained, which requires certain OSHA-approved practices, and then everything needs to be repainted. This needs to be done by people who are trained AND CERTIFIED in lead-abatement rehab work. DON'T try to do this yourself, you risk stirring up more lead particles and getting them into the environment. Nor can any old house painter do this. Certified, trained people need to do lead work.
Presuming the inside could be gotten into good shape ... if the OUTSIDE of the building is flaking lead-contaminated paint into the ground, then everytime someone walks across the yard and into the house or the car lead can get tracked into the house or into the car. It is a real problem. Mary Carol
On lead poisoning; It is very serious. Check out these web sites: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/programs/lead/guide/1997/docs/factlead.htm Facts on... Lead Background on Lead Lead provides no known biological benefit to humans. Lead can produce adverse effects on virtually every system in the body; it can damage the kidneys, the nervous system, the reproductive system, and cause high blood pressure. It is especially harmful to the developing brains of fetuses and young children. There may be no lower threshold for some of the adverse effects of lead in children. In addition, the harm that lead causes to children increases as their blood lead levels increase. Blood lead levels as low as 10 micrograms/deciliter (ug/dL) are associated with harmful effects on children's learning and behavior. We should try to prevent the occurrence of blood lead levels of 10 ug/dL and above in children. Very high blood lead levels cause devastating health consequences including seizures, coma, and death. Children with venous blood lead levels of 20 ug/dL or above or with venous BLLs in the range of 15-19 ugdL over a period of at least 3 months need a doctor's care. Elevated BLLs in children are a major preventable health problem that affects children's mental and physical health. The higher a child's BLL and the longer it persists, the greater the chance that the child will be affected. Elevated blood lead levels can result in: learning disabilities. behavioral problems. mental retardation. at extremely high levels (70 ug/dL or higher), seizures, coma, and even death. Remaining sources of lead exposure Despite progress, major exposure sources still exist: Lead-based paint in older homes that is deteriorating, creating dust and paint chips easily ingested by young children. Lead-based paint in homes that is disturbed during renovation or remodeling. Lead-based paint in homes that is exposed, on a surface easily chewed by a young child (such as a window sill). Lead-contaminated soil. Other potential sources of lead exposure in some areas are: Operating or abandoned industrial sites and smelters. Although lead pollution has been greatly reduced, some soil and dust contamination can still result. Occupations and hobbies. Children can be exposed to lead-contaminated dust on parents' clothes. Use of lead-containing ceramics for cooking, eating or drinking. Use of traditional home remedies or cosmetics that contain lead. ____________________________________________ www.magnet.state.ma.us/dph/miscon.htm www.msnbc.com/news/141405.asp And children are at special risk. Not only do they often swallow lead dust, but also their bodies are smaller and their brains still developing. Even very low levels of lead poisoning in early childhood can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation, according to the CDC. Dr. John F. Rosen, head of the lead program at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, says he has begun seeing children who were lead poisoned as the result of living near the demolition of old buildings containing lead paint. And the problem is not limited to urban areas. The library in rural Bedford, N.Y., had to be closed and decontaminated after lead paint being sandblasted off the house next door blew in through open windows. The improper removal of lead paint in the home is a major concern, says Don Ryan, executive director of the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. Sanding or burning old lead paint off woodwork can be extremely dangerous for children. Burning lead paint off with a torch is especially dangerous, releasing lead fumes that can enter the lungs. Sanding creates clouds of lead-paint dust that will contaminate the entire home. www.thriveonline.com/health/Library/CAD/abstract18416.html Lead poisoning alert! Is your child at risk? Parents 1993 May;68(5):66-68,70 MacDonald A 931683 Lead is the country's number one environmental threat to children because: 57 million homes (built before 1980) still have lead-based paint in them; dirt can contain significant amounts of lead; lead is found in the glaze on some ceramic dishware; and lead is found in some drinking water. Lead is a neurotoxin, leading to impaired physical functioning and intellectual development. Recent research has shown that permanent damage is done by even low levels of lead poisoning (as low as 10 mcg/dl blood). Lead poisoning is asymptomatic and cumulative, so that lead can build up to toxic levels in blood, tissues, and bone with repeated exposures. Although average blood levels of lead have decreased since lead was banned from gasoline, much lead was deposited and still remains in the topsoil from this source. Toddlers and babies are at the highest risk for lead poisoning from regularly drinking formula made with lead-contaminated water and from playing on the floor and ground. Simple precautions to reduce the risk of toxic lead poisoning include: keeping children and pregnant women away from house renovations; limiting the amount of dirt tracked into the home; never using water from the hot tap for human ingestion; not storing acidic foods in ceramic or lead crystal containers; feeding children foods low in fat and high in calcium and iron to reduce lead absorption; washing children's hands before meals; washing all toys and pacifiers that go into mouths; and moving cribs and playpens away from mantels, windowsills, and doors. The Centers for Disease Control recommend testing all children six years old and under, and screening for lead poisoning at six months of age if lead contamination is suspected in the home. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing samples of house tap water for lead for all families with young children. Suggestions are also given for ways to reduce risks if your house has lead-based paint, and resources are provided for lead poisoning prevention. The site at the Center for disease control returned 236 documents on Lead Poisoning. Roger
Lead is very dangerous. I think I read an article recently that indicated that lower levels than were thought to cause problems they found can be very hazardous, especially to very young children. Lead can cause brain damage. If there is chipped or peeling paint or paint dust in your house, and your child is young enough to be picking stuff off the floor and sticking it in his or her mouth, you probably want to do something about it. You should have the child checked for lead levels in the blood. It is a simple blood test and they don't take very much blood from the child to do it. I had a lot of construction done on my house when my daughter was little and had her tested. I seem to recall that they only did a little prick of her finger and squeezed out some blood. Not too traumatic.
You can check with the public health department in your county. I know that Alameda county has a low cost lead abatement program. Some friends had all the woodwork in their house repainted and their garage repainted and other areas of the house sanded and refinished with either a loan that only had to be repaid if they sold their house or was no interest or very low interest. I suggest you check with the county. They will be able to give you lots more information so you can make an informed decision.
FYI, because of the levels of lead in our environment, Twinkies may actually be good for you. They are preserved with EDTA, which is used to precipitate lead out of the blood for persons with very high lead exposure. Basically EDTA lets you pee away the lead. Anyway, take the problem seriously. Debbie
I believe that the landlord is only required to disclose the possible existence of lead in a rental unit. There are forms you should have signed when you signed the lease. If the landlord failed to provide these forms, then I suppose they could be held responsible. Check with a real estate attorney. An old Victorian will have lead paint. It may have been painted over, and some mitigation may have occurred, but any structure older than 1978 has lead paint. I was on the landlord side of this a few years ago. I had disclosed to the tenants (who had an infant) the possible existence of lead in my 1940 rental house, as required by law. They decided to pay for lead testing, which determined unacceptable levels of lead to them. I told them that I would never be able to completely eliminate lead from the house (too costly), and that they would be better served it they found a newer rental, which they did.
Jon Clissold, CSST
Jon [at] solenvironmental.com (Jon[at]solenvironmental[dot]com)
Cell: (925)378-9660
we used him back in 2021. It was $200 and very quick. Good luck!
Forgot to mention that we didn’t go through our landlord. It would’ve been too much of a hassle so it was worth it to us to pay ourselves and have control over it.
I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I can’t imagine how scary this must feel.
A few things:
Your water company can give you a free lead test once a year. While the water itself in the Bay Area is very clean, many houses have old piping and fixtures that can leech lead into the water. Schools are constantly testing positive for lead in the water due to old piping.
Check the recall lists for food and toys that have been recalled for lead. Most recently some cinnamon apple squeeze pouches have been recalled for lead.
I wish I knew more about your legal rights with the landlord in this situation. I would search for a tenants rights organization and contact them. Was there any recent remodeling? Also old bath tubs if the surface is scratched may contain lead.
Food and toys from other countries do not have to follow our lead laws.
I really hope you are able to find the source and someone to advise you on your rights.
Dear first-time mom with a beloved year-old: You note you're living in an " old Victorian" home. Here's something I've learned: Oakland or any ethical town/city can deliver good water to your home. BUT if the water pipes leading from the street into your home are Victorian too, i.e.. lead based, then these old pipes MAY be the source of the threat to your young child. (While the doctor suggested the lead count wasn't that bad, IF it's the pipes, then won't your child's lead count increase as he ages? --- Please request a lead sample voucher by calling Customer Service at 1-866-403-2683 or email customerservice [at] ebmud.com (customerservice[at]ebmud[dot]com) ,,, NOTE: I just got off the phone with "Lee" in Customer Service and she feels you definitely should check your water... and yes, a voucher for a free test of lead is available. She would've sent it out to you-- if I could've given her your address. It seems to get to Lee quickly, or anyone in the customer service dept, you'll dial the main # then she said click on 1 and then 2. Good Luck.
You've probably researched already yourself, but here are a few resources:
State:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/CLPPBhome.aspx
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/LRCRegs.aspx
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/find_lead_pro…
County:
https://www.achhd.org/
https://acphd.org/lead-poison-prevention/
https://www.achhd.org/leadpoisoning/leadp.htm
Oakland (required permits for lead abatement work):
https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/leadabatement
Also wanted to be sure you were aware of the applesauce pouch recall for exceedingly high lead levels (specific brands of cinnamon applesauce):
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wan…
PS: Apart from getting the free EBMUD voucher for testing lead in your water, as I suggested earlier, if there's lead, you'll want to make certain the water your child & everyone in the family-- including pets== are drinking is lead-free-- Also use good water in your cooking too. ----- Research indicates it's ok to bathe in lead-water, to give it to plants, just don't take it internally. -- To get around the lead -water, we use a "Springwell" Reverse Osmosis (RO) system (smallish) that sits on our kitchen counter. There are RO systems that can go under the sink (& larger ones that go outside the home). As a renter you'll want a portable system. BTW: Brita makes a RO filter which is purported to get rid of 99% of lead. And of course you can buy RO water from a local water store. All the best.
Hi I know this must be so incredibly difficult. I worked in Childhood Lead Poisoning prevention and it is a big problem here in California with aging housing. One thing is your landlord is required when you sign the rental agreement to also provide you with lead poisoning information and to notify you that the building may contain lead. If they did that they are not responsible. If they did not provide that they may be able to be held liable. It sounds like you are doing everything to correct the situation. Another source could be the soil outside your home especially if you are gardening. Making sure there is ground covering to prevent dust, not growing vegetables in lead heavy soils, etc should help. There is the State Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program that can assist with more information and support. I would also look at chelation that can help remove lead from your child’s body. Rather than chemical chelation there are foods and supplements that can bind with lead and help remove it from the body. If the levels are above a certain amount chemical chelation is recommended. As you probably know there is actually no safe level of lead for children. The sooner you remove the lead from your child’s body the better off they will be. I hope you get the help you need.
I'm sorry you are dealing with this. We were in a similar stressful situation with our toddler while renting a unit in an old Victorian in Berkeley. YES, you will want to get an inspection done to know where lead levels are high and what areas of your property your child should keep away from. No playing with keys, be careful of painted toys (especially from china), no playing with cables for electronics... a lot of things have lead if you start looking into it.
I lost the contact of the person we hired, but our inspection was probably about 300, a fee to come out and then a fee per location you want tested. You can be pretty sure that that some layers of the paint in your rental are leaded, but if the very top layers are not disturbed and are unleaded, it might not be much concern. If there is grass near the property, avoid letting your child play in the grass, because paint chips falling off the building land on the dirt. You can ask your landlord to pay for the inspection, but he has no obligation to do anything regarding lead, ZERO. Assuming you were given the lead-based paint disclosure pamphlet when you moved in, that's all he has to do.
In our situation, our landlord had hired workers to scrape exterior paint off before repainting, and they wore no respirators, had no hepa vacuums, no protection at all for us or the property and barely even swept up the lead chips that fell at the end of the day. I called the city of Berkeley and contacted the county of Alameda, took photos, and both entities were utterly worthless and could do nothing to compel the owner to do things safely. We consulted a housing rights attorney and told him about the our lead situation and he looked into it as well, nothing in the code books regarding lead. It's just the way it is. We ended up moving to get away from the lead.
Hi there,
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I can relate. We went through this with our son when he was 3 years old (he’s now 15!), and the problem stemmed from a porch renovation.The porch tested negative for lead paint before it was sanded, but one of the base coats of paint (the original/oldest coat) actually did contain lead and the sanding process created a dust that was tracked into the house and onto my son’s piano. He was a thumb-sucker, so his blood lead level rose to 9. Interestingly, his younger brother was crawling at the time and did not have a rise in lead levels even though the dust contaminated the floors - I think it’s because he wasn’t a thumb-sucker. In any case, we fed our son a LOT of homemade smoothies packed with spinach and green veggies because those supposedly helped remove lead from the bloodstream. At the time, we understood that if lead remains in the blood long enough and reaches the brain, it will remain there and can’t be removed, and could permanently affect learning and behavior. Not sure of new info has come along since then, but the smoothies seemed to work because his lead levels dropped to 2 within a couple of weeks, and further dropped after that.
In any case, our pediatrician was obligated to alert the health department, who came to do an official lead inspection and forced us to replace all of our windows - because even if the old lead paint on window frames is sealed with fresh paint, the window frames will rub as the windows open/close and generate a dust that contaminates other areas. They also forced us to repaint some areas of the house (originally built in 1923). We were required to pass a final lead inspection after all of this. So I’m not sure what your toddler’s lead level is, but at a certain level it gets reported and the home owner will need to do a lead abatement. At the very least, buy a home test kit and run the test stick inside the windows, where the sill rubs against the frame.
If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. Good luck!
Anni
You should be able to contact the public health department for help with lead exposure. Alameda County Public Health, Berkeley Public Health, Contra Costa Public Health - look up your county‘s public health department (or city if in Berkeley) and they should have suggestions for what to do about your home. Your pediatrician should have advice for how to reduce your child‘s lead levels. So glad it‘s only mildly high, good luck!
I don’t live in Oakland anymore but these are the resources I remember from my days as a tenant and working in both legal aid and construction-related fields. I might reach out to Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for education and possible support. https://www.achhd.org/leadpoisoning/leadp.htm. And the Oakland Rent Board to find out how to work with / approach your landlord on this. https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rent-adjustment-program Finally, it would not hurt to consult with a tenants rights attorney in case you do need to negotiate with the landlord on addressing this. Knowing what to expect up front can help. Depending on how responsive your landlord is, you may need support to navigate this serious issue if the house turns out to be the source of the lead. Legal resources including Bay Area Legal Aid and a few others I’m forgetting the names of. BALA is probably a great start. Best of luck!
I would test your water, as the pipes may be leaking lead and that won’t show in the data provided by the local water district. If you have a filter, test that the filter is doing its job.
No candies from abroad, and be careful with food from abroad, if consumed in high doses. For example, the bottled pesto from Italy, that I have used for years has a new prop 65 warning of lead in it. There is a small warning, that is so easy to miss.
There was a story recently about cinnamon applesauce pouches where the cinnamon had been adulterated with lead: https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elev…; Did your child eat these?
Hi, I’m anxious about lead levels in our old bungalow and recently dove into this so I want to share what I’ve learned. You can get a FREE home consultation from alameda county healthy homes program where they will walk through your home with you and point out areas of concern, and then suggest remedies and approaches. Ours primarily focused on things others have noted here: replacing old windows, keeping outdoor soil covered (and creating a separate play area such as a sandbox with fresh sand), wet-sanding and sealing some spots on the trim where paint layers are rubbing off, and keeping the house vacuumed and wet-mopped to remove dust. They also recommended an inexpensive kit that you can swipe on windows/doors/ areas of concern and see if there’s lead dust, and then try again after cleaning. This might help you identify sources and therefore areas to avoid having your child play or access. Here is the form to fill out to request this, they got back to me in less than a week, and sent a written summary by email after: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIt-kkK5p6FNnN_b4CJ-yK98nLX2E…
There are also grants available for renters and property owners to do remediation and repair. These are income qualified but perhaps worth checking out:
https://www.achhd.org/programs/housing-rehab/index.htm
wishing you all the best on this