Get the Lead Out! What You Should Know about Lead Paint

The older your home, the more likely it is to have lead in the paint. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), heavily leaded paint is found in two-thirds of the homes built before 1940, one-half of the homes built from 1940 to 1960, and some homes built after 1960. It may also be present in drinking water from solder in household plumbing or municipal water supplies.

Lead may be on any surface inside or outside your home, particularly on woodwork, doors, and windows. Young children can get lead poisoning by eating paint chips or simply by ingesting or inhaling lead dust from deteriorating paint (a common occurrence when paint is removed or disturbed during remodeling).

So now you know what it is, why it's bad, and where it can be found. What can you do about it?