Lead Sources

Before lead paint was banned for home use in 1978, it was widely used in many homes. Houses built before 1950 usually contain the most lead paint. While having lead paint in your home can be concerning, paint that is in good condition is usually not hazardous. However, there are several issues residents should look for in their homes if they were built before 1978:

Paint that is in poor condition. Peeling, chipping, and cracking paint can expose layers of paint that may contain lead. As the paint peels and cracks, lead dust can be created and fall onto the floor.

Paint on impact and friction surfaces. Lead paint was commonly used around windows, doors, stairs, and on floors. Painted areas that rub, hit, or are walked on can create lead dust.

Renovations. Any construction work done in the home can create lead dust. If you are doing the work yourself, you should always work in a lead safe manner. If hiring contractors to work in your home, make sure they are certified by the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) program. This certification shows a contractor was trained in lead safe work practices. More information is available on the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Paint program pages.

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead-based paint and dust, please see our Lead Exposure Prevention page.

For many years, lead was used in plumbing pipes and fixtures. Lead is no longer used in plumbing, but old lead pipes and fixtures can still be found in many homes. Aging infrastructure — either owned by the water system or by the customer — still includes some lead pipes. Solder and fittings can also contain lead.

As a result, lead enters water systems mainly through corrosion in:

• Full or partial lead service lines. Service lines are the pipes that connect some properties to the water main
• Interior lead pipes
• Interior galvanized pipes, especially if the building has or had a full or partial lead service line
• Interior copper pipes with lead soldered joints installed prior to 1988
• Interior plumbing fixtures purchased or installed prior to January 2014 before the adoption of the new definition of “lead-free”

For more information, see: Q&A about the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) exceedance and lead in water(PDF, 409KB).

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead in water, please see our Lead Exposure Prevention page.

Lead naturally occurs at low concentrations in soil. Over the years, industrial emissions, the use of leaded gasoline, and exterior house paint has added to these concentrations. Because of this, lead in soil can be a potential exposure source for children, either by direct contact or when lead dust is tracked into the home.

The following areas could be a potential hazard:

• Areas of bare soil in a yard that children or pets walk or play in or around.
• Bare soil within the drip line (the area 3-feet from a home’s exterior walls). Over time as lead paint peels and cracks on the exterior of a home, dust and paint chips can accumulate in this area.

To learn how to prevent exposure to lead in soil, please see our Lead Exposure Prevention page.

Many occupations and hobbies either use or make you more likely to encounter lead. It is important for parents to use caution so that lead is not accidentally brought into the home. Lead dust can linger on clothing, hair, and hands. Some common occupations and hobbies that come into contact with lead include:

Occupations

• House painting/remodeling
• Auto repair
• Metal work/salvaging/welding
• Industrial painting
• Electronics repair
• Jewelry repair

Hobbies

• Casting fishing weights/bullets
• Stained glass crafting
• Shooting/Reloading ammunition
• Ceramics
• Jewelry making
• Golf club repair

Toys

Lead may be found in the paint on some imported toys. In the United States, the use of lead was banned for products marketed to children in 1978; however, it is still widely used in other countries and therefore can still be found on imported toys. It may also be found on older toys made in the United States before the ban. Lead may also be found in plastic toys.

More information about lead in toys can be found on the CDC’s Lead in Toys page.

Pottery and Ceramic Products

Lead may be present in the glazes or decorations covering the surface of some dinnerware and pottery. If the pottery is not manufactured properly, this lead can leach into food and drink that is prepared, stored, or served on the dishes.

Consumers should pay particular attention to dinnerware or pottery that is:

• Handmade with a crude appearance or irregular shape
• Antique
• Damaged or excessively worn
• Purchased from flea markets or street vendors or if you are unable to determine whether the pottery is from a reliable manufacturer
• Brightly decorated in orange, red, or yellow color, as lead is often used with these pigments to increase their intensity

Pottery not listed above that was made in commercial factories for everyday use is much less likely to have contain lead.

More information about lead in dinnerware, ceramics, and pottery can be found on the FDA website.

Imported Candies

Lead has been found in some consumer candies imported from Mexico. Certain candy ingredients such as chili powder and tamarind may be a source of lead exposure. Sometimes, lead gets into the candy when processes such as drying, storing, and grinding the ingredients are done improperly.

Also, lead has been found in the wrappers of some imported candies. The ink of these plastic or paper wrappers may contain lead that leaches into the candy.

More information can be found on the CDC’s Lead in Candy page.

Imported Cosmetics and Jewelry

Lead is often been used in jewelry to brighten colors, make the article heavier, and to stabilize or soften plastic. If swallowed or put in the mouth, lead jewelry is hazardous to children.

More information about lead in jewelry can be found on the CDC’s Lead in Jewelry page.

Kohl, Kajal, Al-Kahal, Surma, Tiro, Tozali, Kwalli, and other traditional eyeliners that are popular in many parts of the world are a serious health concern because they commonly contain large amounts of lead, as well as other heavy metals.

In some cultures, it is common for parents to apply these products to the eyes of infants and children. Products containing kohl and similar ingredients have been linked to lead poisoning, especially among children. These products are not allowed to be sold in the U.S., but sometimes they make their way into specialty markets.

For more information about lead in cosmetics, please visit the FDA website.

Traditional or Folk Remedies

Lead has been found in some traditional (folk) medicines used by East Indian, Indian, Middle Eastern, West Asian, and Hispanic cultures. Folk medicines can contain herbs, minerals, metals, or animal products. Lead and other heavy metals are put into certain folk medicines because these metals are thought to be useful in treating some ailments. Sometimes, lead accidentally gets into the folk medicine during grinding or coloring process or from the packaging.

Here are some examples of folk remedies that have been found to contain lead:

• Greta and Azarcon (Hispanic)
• Ghasard (Indian)
• Ba-baw-san (Chinese)
• Daw Tway (Thai and Myanmese)

Other folk medicines that may contain lead are listed on the CDC’s Lead in Folk Medicine page.