Lead Sources

Lead-based paint was very common before being banned for home use in 1978. Houses built before 1950 usually contain the most lead paint. When the paint is in good condition, it’s usually not very dangerous, though you should wash your hands after touching it. There are a few issues to be aware of:

• Paint that is in poor condition

  Paint that is peeling, chipped, or cracked can create lead dust, which can fall onto the floor and other surfaces. Even if the surface paint isn’t lead-based, damage can expose layers of older paint underneath, which may contain lead.

• Paint on impact and friction surfaces

  Lead paint was commonly used on window frames, door frames, staircases, and floors. Because these places get bumped, scraped, or rubbed often, they’re more likely to release lead dust.

• Renovations

Any renovations, repairs, or construction work done on the house can create lead dust. It’s important to make sure work is done in a lead-safe way. If you’re hiring contractors to work on the home, make sure they are certified by the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program. This certification shows they have been trained in lead-safe practices. For rental properties, this is required by law.

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead-based paint and dust, see the Lead Exposure Prevention page.

Until recently, lead was used in plumbing pipes and fixtures. It is no longer used in new installations, but older pipes and fixtures can still be found in many homes. Both pipes owned by the water company and by the customer can potentially contain lead, as can solder and fittings.

Typically, lead pipes are relatively low risk, but corrosion can cause lead from the pipe to get into the water. The most likely sources are:

• Full or partial lead service lines, which are the pipes that connect the home to the public water system (see PWSA or your local water provider’s website for more info)
• Interior lead pipes
• Interior galvanized pipes, especially if the building has or had a lead service line
• Interior copper pipes with lead soldered joints, typically installed before 1988
• Interior plumbing fixtures purchased or installed before January 2014, when stricter rules were put into place

For more info, see the Q&A about the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and lead in water.

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead in water, see the Lead Exposure Prevention page.

Lead naturally occurs at low levels in soil. Over the years, things like factories, leaded gasoline, and exterior house paint have increased the amount in many areas. Soil can, therefore, be a potential source of lead exposure, especially for children. This includes both direct contact, such as playing in the dirt, and or from lead dust being tracked inside by people or pets.

A few places that could expose children to lead are:

• Areas of bare soil where children or pets walk or play around in
• Bare soil within a few inches of the home’s outside walls, where paint chips or dust may have built up over time
• Lots where older buildings have been demolished, even if the lot is now empty
• The strip of dirt along the edge of the road, where you might walk to avoid traffic or to relieve your pet during a walk

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead in soil, see the Lead Exposure Prevention page.

Many occupations and hobbies either use or make some people more likely to encounter lead. It is important for parents to use caution so that lead is not accidentally brought into the home. Lead dust can linger on clothing, hair, and hands. Some common occupations and hobbies that come into contact with lead include:

Occupations

• House painting/remodeling
• Auto repair
• Metal work, salvaging, and welding
• Industrial painting
• Electronics repair
• Jewelry repair

Hobbies

• Casting fishing weights/bullets
• Stained glass crafting
• Shooting/Reloading ammunition
• Ceramics
• Jewelry making
• Golf club repair

Although there are laws about lead in commercial products, some older or imported products may still contain some amount of lead.

You may have seen products being recalled for lead. The more common and widespread a product is, the more likely it is for any issues to be noticed, but exposure may have already happened by the time a recall is issued. If you regularly travel overseas or receive packages from family members who live in other countries, it is more likely for you to come into contact with a product that isn’t commonly available in the US. This means you may be exposed to lead without knowing, and there may not be a recall on the product.

Some of the most common sources of lead in commercial products are:

Toys

Many families pass toys down from parent to child. Toys that were made before 1978 may contain lead. While lead was banned for use in children’s products in the US, it is still used in some countries.

Older or imported toys may have lead paint, or they may be made of a metal alloy (mixture) that contains lead. Lead may also be used in the process of making plastic toys, which may break down and form lead dust when exposed to sunlight or soap.

More info can be found on the CDC’s About Lead in Consumer Products page.

Pottery and Ceramic Products

Lead may be present in the glazes or decorations covering the surface of some dinnerware and pottery. Depending on how it is made, this can cause lead to be absorbed into food or drinks that are prepared, stored, or served on these dishes. It is not possible to wash away lead in dishes or bakeware, and trying to do so may increase exposure.

What is glaze? Pottery and ceramics are made of clay, which lets liquids pass through slowly. To make sure dishes can hold food and drinks without leaking, they are glazed, or brushed with a special coating. The glazed pottery is then heated in a type of oven called a kiln, which causes the glaze to set into the glass-like texture we associate with ceramics. Traditionally, many of these glazes contained lead. But even “lead-free” pottery can be contaminated if it is heated in a kiln that was previously used with lead glaze, since some of the glaze drips into the kiln as it’s heated.

Lead exposure is most likely from dishware or pottery that is:

• Handmade—you may notice the shape, pattern, or other details are irregular or inconsistent
• Antique
• Damaged or heavily used
• Brightly decorated in an orange, red, or yellow color—lead is often used to increase the intensity of these colors
• Purchased from flea markets, street vendors, or other informal settings, especially if you cannot tell who the manufacturer is

Pottery that is not antique, is in good condition, and was made in a commercial factory for everyday use is much less likely to contain lead.

More information about lead in dinnerware, ceramics, and pottery can be found on the FDA website.

Imported Candies and Other Foods

Lead has been found in some imported candies, packaged foods such as applesauce, and spices used in cooking. Certain ingredients such as chili powder, tamarind, cinnamon, caraway, and turmeric may be a source of lead exposure. These ingredients go through several processing steps such as drying, storing, and grinding before they are used to make food or sold for cooking, and if any of these steps are done improperly, it is possible for lead to get in.

Spices purchased in the US are typically less likely to have high levels of lead than those purchased in other countries, especially compared to those sold in open markets or in unmarked packaging, which are harder to regulate.

Lead has also been found in the wrappers of some imported candies. The ink from the wrappers may contain lead, which then gets onto the candy.

More information can be found on the CDC’s About Lead in Food, Cosmetics, and Medicines page.

Imported Cosmetics and Jewelry

Lead can sometimes be found in jewelry. It may be used to brighten colors, add weight, or stabilize plastic. If children put these items in their mouth, they can be exposed to hazardous levels of lead.

Lead can also be found in cosmetics, makeup, and skincare products, especially ones that aren’t sold in the US.

Many companies have a form of traditional eyeliner that is made from lead and other heavy metals. It may be called Kohl, Kajal, Al-Kahal, Surma, Tiro, Tozali, or Kwalli. Lead can be one of the main ingredients in these eyeliners, leading to high levels of exposure. In some cultures, it is common to apply these products to infants and children. Unfortunately, this has caused some children to develop lead poisoning, which in some cases has been fatal. To keep children safe and healthy, lead-free alternatives should be used.

Henna can also contain lead. Black henna tends to be riskier than red henna, but both have been found to contain lead and other contaminants that may be harmful, especially to children.

More info can be found on the FDA’s Lead in Cosmetics page.

Traditional/Folk Remedies or Ritual Ingredients

Many cultures and religions have items that are used as medicine or for rituals, ceremonies, or rites. These can include herbs, minerals, metals, or animal products. Sometimes, lead is added on purpose with the aim of treating certain ailments or because it has certain properties. Other times, it gets in to the product accidentally during processes such as grinding or dyeing.

Some common folk remedies that have been found to contain lead are in the table below.

The names with a * indicate that lead is a main ingredient.

Cosmetics, dyes, and jewelry that have cultural or religious significance can also contain lead. This is most common with eyeliners (such as Kohl, Kajal, Al-Kahal, Surma, Tiro, Tozali, or Kwalli), sindoor, henna, and amulets (see the section above).

We recognize the importance of cultural and religious remedies and rituals. For those items that aren’t made specifically from lead, parents should try to find sources that are known to be safe. Unfortunately, for products that are largely made of lead powder, there is no safe source or amount. This presents a challenge for parents who wish to use traditional remedies while keeping their child safe from lead.

There may be other remedies from a culture that serve the same purpose, without the risk of lead exposure. For example, instead of Alarcon, which is made from powdered lead, try manzanilla or yerba buena. A cultural or spiritual leader, healer, or elder may be able to help you find an alternative. However, they may not recognize the importance of avoiding lead-based remedies.

If you aren’t sure if a traditional ingredient or item contains lead, ask your child’s doctor. It is always a good idea to make sure they know traditional medicines are being used, because some can interact with medicines the doctor might prescribe. Some doctors may be less accepting of these remedies, but if they don’t know they’re being used, it may make it harder for them to keep your child safe and healthy.

Working together with your child’s doctor and leaders in your community can help you find a solution that honors traditional methods while keeping your child safe from lead. A community health worker may be able to help you bridge the gap between the two and make sure they understand the importance of both sides.