Are You Taking the Necessary Steps to Prevent Lead Poisoning in Your Home?
Lead poisoning isn’t something many people think about, but it is extremely important to be aware of. In 1978, the United States outlawed paint and other products containing lead. This does not mean that the problem has disappeared though. The paint on your walls, old dishes, furniture, and family heirlooms could subject you and your family to lead exposure.
Researchers found that young children under the age of six and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead poisoning. This can highly affect a child’s ability to learn, concentrate, develop properly, and may result in death. Carroll County Coalition for Public Health (C3PH), an initiative of Granite United Way, has joined forces with partners across the country to spread the word about the risks of lead poisoning in children and what steps need to be taken to avoid it.
According to C3PH’s Caleb Gilbert, “Our County’s older housing stock continues to pose lead exposure risks to families. While these older homes are often synonymous with rural New England lifestyle, they do pose risks for our children and we want to help families know what they can do to prevent poisonings.”
So what actions can we make today to ensure our families are safe?
- Test for lead paint before renovating. According to Lead Free Kids NH, one-in-three children that have been lead poisoned in NH have had renovations done in their home during the six months prior.
- If lead is discovered in your home or in a place where your children spend time, make sure the issue is remedied using lead-safe techniques. See the following webpage for more information: www.leadfreekidsnh.org/advice-for-diyers/.
- For renters, it is important to note that landlords must ensure all work to remedy lead issues comply with Federal EPA Renovate, Repair, Paint (RRP) laws and the repairs must be completed by a person who is RRP certified.
- Effective April 9, 2018, NH became a Universal blood lead level testing state. All NH children are required to have their blood lead levels tested at age 1, and again, a second test, at age 2 years. If your child has not been tested, it is recommended to test them at 3 to 6 years old.
C3PH is committed to spreading awareness on lead prevention, distributing at-home lead paint test kits, and provide training opportunities to increase the number of certified individuals to remediate or remove lead hazards from our environment and housing stock.