Where Exposure Comes From
Children are usually exposed to lead from several small sources at once. Knowing the main routes is the first step to reducing them.
Older paint is still the largest source
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978, but it remains on walls, windows, and doors in millions of older homes. As the paint deteriorates, chips and fine dust can form, particularly around window sills and on floors.
Renovation and repair work that sands, scrapes, or cuts painted surfaces can release large amounts of lead dust in a short time. Families in older homes may also want to consider other potential sources of exposure, including drinking water. Lead water testing in NYC can help assess whether tap water may be another source of lead in the household.
Federal rules require contractors working in pre-1978 homes to follow lead-safe practices to help prevent hazardous dust from spreading during renovation and repair work.
Lead from plumbing
Lead rarely comes from the water source itself. It enters water from plumbing: lead service lines, lead solder used in copper pipes before 1986 and some older brass faucets and fittings.
Levels are usually highest in water that has been sitting in the pipes for several hours. Hot water dissolves more lead than cold, which is why cold water is recommended for drinking, cooking and preparing formula.
Babies who are fed formula made with tap water can get a large share of their lead exposure from water, because water makes up most of what they consume.
Soil, renovation and work clothing
Soil near older buildings and busy roads can contain lead from deteriorating exterior paint and leaded gasoline, which was used for decades before being phased out. Children playing in bare soil may accidentally swallow contaminated particles or track them indoors on their shoes.
Adults whose jobs or hobbies involve lead, such as construction, battery recycling, firing ranges, or stained glasswork, can also bring lead dust home on their skin, hair, clothing, and shoes. Alongside these sources, families may want to consider other possible exposure routes, including drinking water. Brooklyn environmental water testing specialists can help investigate water quality concerns as part of a broader effort to identify potential sources of lead in the home.
Common sources of lead exposure for children
Several sources often add together. A blood test shows the total; looking at each route shows where it may be coming from.
| Source | Where it is found | How children are exposed |
|---|---|---|
| Paint and dust | Homes built before 1978 | Swallowing dust from floors, sills and hands |
| Drinking water | Lead service lines, pre-1986 solder, older brass fixtures | Drinking water and formula made with tap water |
| Soil | Near older buildings and busy roads | Outdoor play and dust tracked indoors |
| Take-home dust | Jobs and hobbies that involve lead | Contact with work clothes, shoes and skin |
| Consumer products | Some imported spices, cosmetics, ceramics, toys and remedies | Eating, applying or mouthing the product |
Everyday steps that reduce exposure
- Use cold water. Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking and making formula.
- Run the tap. If water has been sitting for several hours, run the cold tap until it feels noticeably colder.
- Clean faucet aerators. The small screens on faucets can trap particles that contain lead.
- Wet-clean dust. Wipe sills and floors with a damp cloth or mop rather than dry sweeping.
- Wash hands and toys. Especially before meals and naps.
- Hire lead-safe contractors. For work on painted surfaces in homes built before 1978.
Find out what your taps contribute
Olympian Water Testing plans first-draw and flushed sampling around your home and the question you want answered.