The 1940s and 1950s leadbased paint was in widespread use. It continued to be used in lower concentrations until the mid1970s. The manufacture of paint containing high concentrations of lead for interior and exterior residential surfaces, toys, and furniture was banned in 1978 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Leadbased paint, however, is still available for industrial, military and marine use and occasionally ends up being used in homes.Paint with high lead content is estimated to be in 74 percent of all housing built before 1980. Those housing units containing deteriorating leadbased paint are the major concern. Of even greater concern is these homes that have young children as occupants. When leadbased paint on surfaces is broken, sanded, or scraped, it breaks into tiny, sometimes invisible, pieces that children may swallow or inhale.Pica, a craving for unnatural food, is one way young children are exposed to lead when they eat tiny pieces of peeling or chipping leadbased paint. A child does not have to eat paint chips, however, to become poisoned. More commonly, children ingest dust and soil contaminated with lead from paint that flakes or chalks as it ages. Lead dust can settle on floors, walls, and furniture. Settled lead dust can reenter the air through cleaning, such as vacuuming or sweeping, or by movement of people throughout the house. Leadcontaminated house dust, ingested via normal repetitive handtomouth activity, is now recognized as a major contributor to lead poisoning in children. Adults can also be exposed to lead in the same ways.The risk of lead poisoning is related to both the presence and the condition of the paint. Leadbased paint is typically found on kitchen and bathroom walls. Pre1950 homes may have leadbased paint throughout on doors, windows, and wooden trim. The risks of lead poisoning are greater when leadbased paint has deteriorated or when leadbased paint even intact paint is located on surfaces accessible to children. Leadbased paint on interior and exterior windows is particularly of concern because it is abraded into dust by the repeated opening and closing of the windows.

Address: 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1295
Website: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5008.html