Oct 23-29 is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Did you know that lead poisoning is one of the nation’s most devastating environmental health threats? 535,000 children (ages 1-5) have been diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels of 5µg/dl or higher.* What does this mean for them?  It can cause learning disabilities, speech development problems, hearing loss, and hyperactivity. In the worst cases, it can even cause comas, convulsions, and death. Those are not the kind of negative effects that anyone should take a chance on.

Adults are not safe from the dangers of lead poisoning either. The “less dangerous” symptoms can include impaired concentration, nausea, depression, premature birth, and cardiovascular disease. The more serious symptoms include hearing loss, anemia, impotence, seizures, and death.

Don’t take a risk with your health or your family’s health.  Any home built before 1978 could contain lead paint. In fact, 37.1 million homes contain lead paint, and that only includes those that we are aware of.* So, what can you do to protect your family? The first obvious answer is to have your home tested for lead, but there are other things you can do too.

        Look for chipping, flaking, peeling paint anywhere your child lives or visits.

        Wash your child’s hands and toys often.

        If you are renovating, hire certified contractors that comply with all lead laws, including the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP).

Complete Home Solutions thinks it’s important that every homeowner and renter take care of their health and safety. That’s why we ask that everyone with a house built before 1978 take the time to look out for dangerous symptoms and signs of lead poisoning. If you or a friend have any questions regarding this issue, we recommend paying a visit to the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative for extra information.

*Statistic proved by the Center for Disease Control and National Center for Environmental Health