Preventing Lead Poisoning (1213)

Here are some useful tips to help prevent childhood lead poisoning:

1. Keep your home as dust-free as possible.

2. Wet mop the floors and wipe furniture and window sills with an all-purpose household detergent. Although previous guidelines recommended using a detergent containing trisodium phosphate (TSP), recent research has found that an ordinary household detergent is just as effective.

3. Wash your child’s hands frequently, especially before eating, naps, and at bedtime.

4. Wash pacifiers, baby bottles, teething rings, and toys often.

5. Keep children’s toys and playthings away from areas that have chipping or peeling paint.

6. Discourage your child from sucking her thumb, biting her nails, and chewing on her fingers.

7. Adults in the family who work in jobs where lead is used should shower and change clothes before coming home. This includes painters, remodelers or workers in smelters or battery plants. All clothing worn at work must be washed separately and not with the clothes of other household members.

8. Keep windows closed on windy days to prevent dust from getting into the house.

9. When you find any cracking or chipping paint, contact the nearest Department of Health office for assistance.

10. Ask your doctor to test your child for blood poisoning regularly if you live in a housing unit built prior to 1978.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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