May 2008
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Protect your child from lead in everyday objects throughout your home
Here are some day-to-day things you can do, along with some things to avoid, that can help to protect your family from lead exposure.

  • Store toys in a clean place off the floor and wash them frequently to remove any accumulated dust or dirt that may contain lead.

  • Sort through the toy box periodically to discard items with chipped paint, deteriorated plastic, or other broken or damaged parts.

  • Avoid vintage toys and antique furniture that may have been painted with older lead-based paint. If an item is a keepsake or collectible, put it away until your child is older.

  • Do not buy jewelry for young children. Not only have millions of pieces been recalled for excessive lead content, but such jewelry can also pose a choking hazard.

  • Make sure arts and crafts items you buy for your children are nontoxic. Lead has been banned from paint, including children's paints, but artist's paints and ceramic glazes for adult use are exempt from the ban and can contain lead and other toxic heavy metals.

  • Wrap all food that goes in your child's lunch box, including fruit. Certain vinyl lunch boxes have been found to contain lead.

  • Although most large commercial producers of ceramic dishware meet regulatory standards for lead, not all do, especially overseas producers. Pottery that is homemade or purchased abroad at open markets or from street sellers, as well as small producers from other countries, may also pose risks, so avoid serving food in it.

  • Don't allow babies to play with or chew on your keys because metal keys have been identified as potential sources of lead exposure.

  • Garden hoses, extension or power cords and strands of holiday lights often contain lead (which may be disclosed on their labeling), so anyone handling them should wash their hands afterward.

  • Vinyl miniblinds manufactured before 1996 may contain lead that forms dust on the blinds as the plastic deteriorates from sun and heat exposure. Remove them if you think they were manufactured before 1996.

  • Feed your child a diet rich in iron and calcium. Children who consume adequate amounts of those nutrients absorb less lead.

  • Check recall lists regularly in case any items in your home have been recalled due to excessive lead levels.