LEAD HAZARDS
GENERAL INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning (600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Ste. 100, Washington, DC 20003; 202/543-1147): Conducts advocacy regarding childhood lead poisoning. Provides basic information and publications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Center for Environmental Health - Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (Mailstop F42, Atlanta, GA 30333; 404/488-7330): Researches lead poisoning and prevention. Distributes a general brochure called Important Facts About Childhood Lead Poisoning and a technical report, Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children.
N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (NC DEHNR)
- Environmental Health Services Section (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-9933): Has a lead inspection and abatement program which distributes publications including a brochure called Living Lead Free: Protecting Your Family from the Dangers of Lead. The brochure is published and also distributed by the American Water Works Association (800/926-7337).
- Prevention Services Branch (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/715-3293): The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program maintains a database of information on blood lead level screenings for children less than six years of age. Data dates back to the early 1980's. Approximately 60,000 screenings are done each year.
- Public Water Supply Section (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-2321): Houses a computerized database of public water supply contents and provides information on lead levels in specific supplies, comparing levels to the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). All public water systems in the state are required to submit the data periodically to the Section.
Duke University Medical Center Poison Control Center (Box 3007, Durham 27710; 800/672-1697): Provides information on lead poisoning. Recommends emergency actions for acute poisonings and actions for chronic problems. Refers individuals to doctors and agencies. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
N.C. Environmental Defense Fund (NC EDF) (128 E. Hargett St., Ste. 202, Raleigh 27601; 919/821-7793): Distributes a booklet, What You Should Know About Lead in China Dishes, which contains general information on the lead in china and health impacts of lead, a buyer's guide, and a list of lead-safe china patterns and their manufacturers.
National Safety Council - National Lead Information Center (1019 19th St. NW, Ste. 401, Washington, DC 20036-5105; 800/LEAD FYI): Operates a lead contamination "hotline" which will record your name and address and send information on lead hazard abatement and prevention, including an EPA brochure called Lead Poisoning and Your Children and informational sheets on lead testing and lead-based paint.
U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Resource Center, 401 M. St. SW, Washington, DC 20460; 800/426-4791): Distributes a list of the 800 communities across the U.S. which were found to have public water supply systems with lead levels exceeding acceptable standards. Provides information on federal regulations regarding public water supply systems.
TESTING FOR LEAD
Lead present in the environment may pose health risks when ingested or inhaled into the body. Lead may be present in hazardous amounts in indoor and outdoor paint, house dust, soil, water, ceramic cookware and utensils, and ethnic home remedies.
To have your home inspected for the presence of lead hazards from painted surfaces and dust, contact your county health department. County health departments have clinical staff who provide services including testing for lead levels in blood and medical follow-up. Private physicians can also test blood for lead levels. Environmental health specialists at county health departments can investigate and help abate problems.
To find out whether lead is present in soil or water, contact county extension agents, who can collect samples and send them to the state laboratory for testing. Counties will test water for lead for $10; soil testing is free. In cases where a health specialist cannot visit the home, the county health staff can direct you on how to take samples and where to send them for testing. Counties can also provide you with a list of private laboratories which also test water and soil.
The Clean Water Fund of N.C. (Clean Water Lead Testing, 29 1/2 Page Ave, Asheville 28801; 704/251-0518) offers testing through the mail for lead in water, dust, paint, soil, and ceramics. One test covers one sample. Each test for water or ceramics costs $17; for paint, soil, or dust $20. Someone can answer questions you may have after receiving the results. Samples are tested by the UNC-Asheville Environmental Quality Institute as part of their research program. A brochure on the test kits is available.
Simple do-it-yourself lead test kits are available by mail from the following companies:
- Carolina Environment Lead Check (P.O. Box 26661, Charlotte 28221; 704/598-1397): Tests are available for ceramics, paint, dust, soil, and water.
- LeadCheck Swabs, HybriVet Systems (P.O. Box 1210, Framingham, MA 01701; 800/262-LEAD): Tests are available for paint, ceramics, and china.
- Leadcheck II, Michigan Ceramic Supplies (4048 Seventh St., P.O. Box 342, Wyandotte, MI 48192; 313/281-2300): Tests are available for paint, utensils, soil, water, ceramics, and dishes.
- Pace Environs - Frandon Lead Alert Kit (81 Finchdene Square, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1X1B4; 800/359-9000): Tests are available for soil, paint, dust, ceramics, utensils, and water.
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