Healthy homes: Lead + mercury
Lead
Scientists and health experts now know that even the smallest exposure to lead can impair brain function in children. Lead exposure can happen in older buildings, as it was used in house paint (before 1978), water pipes (before 1986), and leaded solder (before 1988). Nearly half of childhood lead poisoning in Oregon comes from remodeling or repainting. Oregon contractors performing renovation on homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified to prevent lead contamination. Lead can also be found in old toys, pottery and hand-painted china.
If you are concerned about lead exposure in children, a simple finger prick blood test can help. Ask your doctor or your county health department about low-cost lead screening.
Lead in old household paint
- Commit to regular monitoring for chips and cracks around doors and windows indoors and outdoors.
- Use a wet mop or sponge to clean floors and around windows every week.
- Clean up paint chips (indoors and out).
- If you find wear, re-paint walls with a fresh coat of low or no-voc paint. Do not disturb existing paint!
- Consult a professional before disturbing paint by sanding or scraping.
Water can also carry lead
Water can also carry lead, from old lead pipes, the solder that connects copper pipes, and PVC piping. Hot water—or water standing in the pipes—can carry higher levels of lead, as lead leaches into warm water and standing water.
- Run your faucet for 15-30 seconds until water is noticeably cooler before using water for drinking or cooking.
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula.
Lead in toys
Though there are restrictions on the amount of lead allowable in toys, a number of products are regularly recalled because of high lead content. It’s wise to be cautious.
- Get rid of metal or painted costume jewelry and toys with painted surfaces. Children are exposed to lead when they put these toys or jewelry in their mouths.
- Test paint that may contain lead with a lead testing kit (found at your local hardware store).
Mercury
Mercury occurs naturally, but it is released into the environment from burning fossil fuels, cement kilns, steel mills and mining. When released from air to lakes and streams, it can become an even more toxic substance: methyl mercury. There are also some household sources of mercury that should be handled carefully.
- The best way to avoid mercury exposure is to follow warnings about fish consumption.
- Look out for mercury in old thermometers, wall thermostats and light-up novelty items . Dispose of mercury-containing items at a household hazardous waste facility. These items are not a source of exposure unless they are broken or discarded improperly. Find the nearest hazardous waste facility by visiting www.earth911.org.
- Energy-saving compact fluorescent (and regular fluorescent) light bulbs also contain a very tiny amount of mercury. If a fluorescent bulb is broken at home, open the windows for 15 minutes to let vapors disperse. Use gloves to pick up pieces, or use sticky tape to clean up small pieces and powder. Don’t use a vacuum—this will only disperse particles. Seal all pieces in a plastic bag or glass jar and dispose of it at a hazardous waste recycling facility.
