How can you tell if something has lead in it, e.g. paint on somethinng?

Question

I've heard about toys being recalled because of lead, either high levels or excess levels, in the paint or somewhere else. But how can you tell that there's lead in it? Please answer!!!

Answer 1

In response to previous the answer: If you don't know, don't answer.

The cut-off year for lead-based paint (LBP) in residential applications was 1978. It should not have been applied after that. 1-1-1985 was cut-off for lead-containing solder used to join copper pipes, a different issue.

And yes, toys have been recalled just this last summer for containing lead. Our local library gave out some for a children's reading contest. They invertibly come from China, India, etc.

Back to the orignal question:

If I'm inspecting a whole house, I use a X-ray fluoresence instrument (google "XRF Niton" for background). $10,000 to $20,000, it tells you 10-30 seconds the lead concentration in a material and can see through upper coats of benign paint. You need to be trained for a few days in its use, so no, no one will rent you one.

The home-owner, DIY option is a little color-metric swab that turns pink if there is lead in paint or leachable lead in a toy or dishes. A better paint store will stock them, "Lead Check" or look at www.homaxproducts.com About $15 for two swabs that can test 4 locations.

For paint, you cut through all layers at an angle, swab it for 30 seconds and look for a pink color on the swab. Most suspect are door and window jambs, exterior trim and kitchen/baths. Especially before 1950.

On pottery/dishes, most Italian lead-based glazes test out okay because they were fired at a high enough temperature. Some Mexican stuff, (yellow and red are likely lead pigments) weren't fired hot enough therefore it can leach. DON'T serve the acidic salsa in such a dish. Use it for the chips. Or throw it away.

If there was a local souce of bad toys, usually the health department would get involved. Asking them would be a place to start.

Other lead expsoures can arise from cheap emblems and religious medals and some folk/traditional remedies from the "home country". Occupational/recreational exposures of parents (like shooting guns, casting bullets, striping paint) can bring lead-containing dust home where kids can be exposed.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Common house paint is no longer made with lead.

If you have a house that has paint that was put on before 1985 it probably has lead in it. The best course of action is to not disturb it - just paint over it.

I don't believe any new toys are being produced with lead paint since the danger is well known.

Good luck.