Parents/Tenants
What is Lead?
Lead is a highly toxic metal found naturally
in the environment. Lead can cause serious damage to the human
body. Lead is particularly harmful to children. It can cause
learning and behavior problems, and delay physical growth and
mental development.
The most common sources of lead are paint and dust. However,
some foods and spices, medicines, claypots and dishes, cosmetics,
and painted toys from other countries can contain lead. Some
jobs and hobbies can also expose workers and their families
to lead.
What can I do to protect my child from being lead poisoned?
You can protect your child by doing the following:
- Report peeling or damaged paint to your landlord. Landlords
must fix peeling paint. It's the law.
- Keep children away from peeling paint and home repairs that
disturb lead based paint.
- Call 311 if your landlord does not fix
peeling paint. You can also call 311 to report
unsafe work practices.
- Remind your doctor to test your child for lead poisoning
at both 1 and 2 years of age. Test older children too if you
think they have been exposed.
- Household dust can be contaminated with lead. Reduce dust
in your home by cleaning floors, windowsills, and other dusty
places often with wet mops and wet cloths.
- • Wash toys, pacifiers and other items children
put in their mouths often.
- • Wash children's hands often, especially before
meals, after playing, and before sleeping.
- Avoid items that may contain lead, such as certain imported
foods, cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and toys. For information about recalls and product safety, you can contact the US Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.
- Use only cold tap water to make baby formula and for drinking and cooking (run the water for a few minutes first.) For further information on lead in drinking water visit the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Click here for fact sheets and brochures
for parents
