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Get Smart About Lead Hazards

Brought to you by the National PTA®.

Make a lifelong commitment to improving the health of your family by starting to make a difference around your home. If you suspect that your home has lead-based hazards, take these simple steps to help protect your family.

  • Get your home tested for lead hazards, especially if it was built before 1978.

  • Get your children tested if you think they have been exposed to lead.

  • Keep paint intact and in good condition. Clean up any paint chips or paint debris around your house using a wet sponge or rag.

  • Keep dust levels down by cleaning regularly with an all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead.

  • Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat, to remove any lead that may cling to their hands.

  • Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly to rid them of lead dust.

  • Keep children from chewing on painted surfaces, as these surfaces may contain lead-based paint.

  • Make sure your children eat a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and high in calcium and iron. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

  • Take precautions before renovating or remodeling a home built before 1978. Contact your local EPA for guidelines.
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