Lead Prevention Measures in the Home

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• Lead Prevention Measures in the Home

Lois J. Shapiro-Canter, J.D. President and CEO,
Saratoga Foundation for Women WorldWide,
Inc. April 10, 2006
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INTRODUCTION

• Lead in food and drink lowest in history
• 90 lower than 12 years ago
• Due to U.S. food industrys voluntary elimination
  of lead solder to seal seams of food cans and
  removal of lead from gasoline
• Thousands of children and adults accidentally
  poisoned by lead
• Tragedy is that all lead poisoning is preventable

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HOME-BASED LEAD EXPOSURE

• Prior to 1950, lead-based paint used on
  inside/outside of homes
• 1977 federal regulations eliminated lead from
  paint for general use
• Still buildings with lead paint
• Old paint flakes off/lead dust on babies
  hands/toys

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• Lead paint banned in NYS since 1978
• Most older homes have some old layers of lead
  paint
• Lead paint on sliding parts of windows ground
  into dust when opened/closed
• Any lead-painted surface that gets worn away
  (door edges, jambs, cabinet door edges) source of
  lead house dust

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• ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
• Babies/toddlers put toys/hands in mouth
• Inhalation of dust raised by dry sweeping/dusting
• Ingestion of dust settled on food left uncovered
• Chewing on painted windowsills/doors/chairs,
  rails, etc.

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• LEAD PIPES
• Lead leaches from plumbing pipes/fixtures that
  contain lead
• Longer lead stands in contact with
  lead-contaminating plumbing materials, higher
  lead level in water
• Water standing in pipes overnight most
  contaminated

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• Flush 1-2 minutes/use only cold water
• Never use hot water/hot dissolves much more lead
  out of plumbing materials than cold water, even
  after pipes flushed
• Leaching rates accelerate when water is acidic or
  hot

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• Lead in water cannot be seen, tasted, smelled
• Boiling water will not get rid of lead
• Sources of lead contamination include brass
  fixtures, older drinking water coolers, older
  coffee urns
• Yale-90 of lead blood levels in children linked
  to sources other than drinking water

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• HOW DO WE CLEAN UP LEAD FROM OUR HOME?
• Remove all personal belongingsfurniture, drapes,
  carpets, cooking/eating utensils
• Cover floors, counters, cabinets/radiators with
  plastic

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• Close off work area with 6 mil plastic sheeting
  to protect heating/ventilation systems
• Provide workers with protective equipment,
  overalls, shoe/hair coverings, gloves,
  goggles/respirators
• Keep residents, especially children/pregnant
  women out of the home

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• Before repainting, clean the area thoroughly by
  vacuuming with high efficiency air filter (HEPA
  filter), followed by a thorough wet-washing
  followed by a repeat HEPA filter vacuuming
• Follow EPA guidelines on lead paint repairs

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• RENTAL HOMES
• Ask your landlord whether paint has been tested
• Ask to see results or have it tested yourself

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• FOOD
• FDA estimates 20 of all dietary lead comes from
  canned food (2/3 from lead solder in cans)
• Acidic foods leach lead from solder in the can
  seams
• Number of food cans lead soldered has declined,
  does not apply to imported foods

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• Contaminated flour and food coloring from Middle
  East
• Candy packaged in jars from South America

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• CANDY
• Mexican candies-chili powder/tamarind
• Lead gets in candy during drying, storing,
  grinding ingredients improperly
• Lead in candy wrappers-ink contains lead which
  leaches into candy

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• FOOD BAGS
• Bright red and yellow paint on bread bags

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• OTHER SOURCES
• Colored bread bags may contain lead pigments
  which leach into food when turned inside out
• Natural calcium supplements derived from animal
  bone may contain lead if animal exposed
• Waterfowl may ingest leaded shot, consumed by
  unsuspecting hunters/families

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• Wine and homemade alcohol distilled/stored in
  leaded containers
• Smoking cigarettes/breathing second hand smoke
  increases exposure since tobacco smoke contains
  lead

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• CERAMIC TABLEWARE
• Lead used in glazes for ceramic dishware
• If not fired to a high enough temp for a long
  time, lead released from glaze into food
• Acidic foods tomato juice, fruit juice, coffee,
  wine, vinegar in poorly fired ceramics can leach
  lead

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• FDA toxicologists agree pregnant women should not
  drink these beverages from lead-glazed ceramic
  cups
• Responsible manufacturers of ceramic ware take
  all precautions, however, even with properly
  glazed pieces, low amounts of lead may migrate
  into food

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• FDA scientists found 80 of adult exposure to
  lead from food in ceramics comes from frequent
  use of mugs/hot beverages
• Dishwashing lead glazed pottery, especially
  imported could result in chipping/wearing off
  protective glaze and expose people to
  lead-containing pigments

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• USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN PURCHASING IMPORTED
  CERAMICS
• Japan/UK have good quality procedures similar to
  U.S.
• FDA recommends ceramics purchased in Mexico,
  China, Hong Kong, India be tested for lead
  release by commercial laboratory/use for
  decorative purpose

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• PRECAUTIONS
• Never store food in pewter, lead crystal or
  glazed pottery containers
• Never store acidic foods in glazed pottery
  (tomato juice, fruit juice, wine, coffee)
• Dishes/pottery made in U.S. since 1971 generally
  safe

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• Lead-free glaze should be used on ceramics
• Antiques, collectibles, pieces made by amateurs
  for gifts or craft fairs may contain lead that
  could leach into food
• To obtain test kits for ceramic ware contact FDA
  office listed in blue pages phone book

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• JEWELRY HISTORY
• 1994 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
  recalled lead-tainted jewelry from vending
  machines nationwide
• CPSC recalled 2.8 million pieces of childrens
  jewelry March 3, 2005 sold under name Charming
  Thoughts nationwide in Michaels Arts Crafts
  Stores and Hancock Stores

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• Metal charms sold as decorations for greeting
  cards, scrapbooks/gifts attached to
  bracelets/necklaces
• Michaels-over 800 stores/largest specialty
  retailer arts/crafts materials

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• CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (www.cehca.org)
• Tested hundreds of pieces of costume jewelry
• Found Disneyland had 275 times legal limit lead
  in paint (labeled lead-free)
• 2004 CEH filed lawsuits under Californias
  Proposition 65

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• Proposition 65 (CA) allows citizen enforcement
  when companies fail to warn consumers their
  products expose people to illegal levels of toxic
  chemicals
• Under Prop 65, CEH sued Jordache, Macys, J.C.
  Penny, Kmart, Nordstroms, Sears, Target, Walmart
  and others for selling lead-contaminated jewelry

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• Most of the jewelry is imported costume jewelry
  marketed to children/women of child-bearing age
• Jewelry found with high levels of lead include
• 1- necklaces made with plastic cords
• 2- metal jewelry made with tin

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• 3-Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) plastic in the cords
  leaches lead and low grade tin in pendants/clasps
  is lead-contaminated
• 4- Brand Names include Orion (Burlington)
  Claires Forever 21, Worthington (J.C. Penny),
  Juststyle (Kmart), Lane Bryant, Nairi
  (Nordstrom), Eitienne V (Nordstrom), Aprostrophe
  (Sears), Mainframe (Sears) and Zhiliration
  (Target)

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• According to CEH, CPSC does not take a proactive
  approach to jewelry/awaits until child is harmed
  by lead exposure AND fails to establish
  requirements for the industry to test childrens
  jewelry
• Parents must be proactive and buy only lead-free
  jewelry and/or have it tested

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• PROACTIVE MEASURES
• Examine all jewelry for children/young adults
• Ask retailer if lead-free
• Buy lead free or have it tested if in doubt
  (home lead test kit www.leadcheck.com)
• Avoid jewelry with plastic cords, dull metallic
  components or fake white pearls-often test
  lead-positive
• If not sure, dont buy it!!

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• TOYS
• Lead toy soldiers
• Old painted toys/furniture
• Soft vinyl lunch boxes contain dangerous amounts
  of lead (Toys R Us, Warners Brothers, DC
  Comics, Time Warner, Walgreens (Superman, Tweety
  Bird, Powerpuff Girls, Hamtaro)
• www.cecha.org/lunchboxes.htm
• See list recalled items

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• MEDICINAL/PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
• Do not use these Cosmetics
• Traditional Kohl (surma, kajal) eye
  cosmetic-Middle Eastern, Asian and North African
  societies
• Khojati -- India
• Unlabelled kohl Morocco
• Hashmi Kohl Aswad-Pakistan

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• SKIN DEEP PRODUCTS WITH LEAD ACETATE
• Grecian Formula 16 Liquid with Conditioner (Hair
  coloring and bleach)
• Inman Oil Free Cleanser (facial cleanser)
• EBL GreyBan Restores Natural Hair Color (hair
  color and cleaning)

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• FOREIGN DIGESTIVE REMEDIES
• Unapproved foreign digestive remedies containing
  lead include Alarcon, Azarcon, Coral, Greta,
  Liga, Maria Luisa, Rueda
• Greta is 99 lead oxide

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• BABY POWDERS/CREAMS
• CEH filed lawsuits in 1999 against large
  manufacturers of baby powders/creams high in lead
• Defendants-Block Drug, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.,
  Clairol, Inc., Chattem, Inc., Diamond Products
  Co., Insight Pharmaceuticals Corp, Johnson
  Johnson, Personal Care Products, Pfizer, Playtex,
  Schering-Plough Healthcare Products,
  Warner-Lambert

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• CEH CASE SETTLED IN 2003
• 1- Countered assertions by manufacturers lead not
  absorbed by the skin
• 2- Forced companies to implement
  health-protective standards/ drastically reduce
  dangerous lead exposures for children
• 3- Reduction of zinc oxide allowed in product to
  no more than 10 by weight/reduction for lead in
  zinc oxide to no more than 10 ppm

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• ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
• Lead estimated to be in 90 of electronic
  components produced worldwide, primarily in form
  of solder
• China is considering banning lead in consumer
  products
• Many Japanese companies have voluntarily
  eliminated lead from their products

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• UNUSUAL SOURCES OF LEAD EXPOSURE
• Folk medicines
• Calcium supplements from bonemeal
• Contaminated flour and food coloring from Middle
  East
• Candy packaged in jars from South America

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• Pottery/cookware from around the world
• Lead-based artist paints
• Lead crystal baby bottles
• Fishing weights
• Stained glass
• Candles with leaded wicks
• Vinyl mini and vertical blinds

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• Car keys
• Bullets
• Curtain weights
• Imported crayons
• Pewter
• Buttons
• Products built pre-1978 toys, playground
  equipment, furniture

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• INDUSTRIAL SOURCES
• Smelters
• Battery production/recycling
• Some paint pigment production facilities
• Solid waste sites
• Small garages work with old car batteries
• Municipal incinerators

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• Lead is also present in incinerator ash
• Municipal waste-to-energy incinerators and
  hazardous waste incinerators release lead into
  atmosphere (occurs when air pollution control
  devices not maintained/operated improperly)

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• Community exposed to these emissions through
  ingestion or inhalation of lead-contaminated
  dust, soil, air
• Abandoned industrial sites (old mines or lead
  smelters) and hazardous waste sites (Superfund
  sites) continue to pose a potential health hazard

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• OCCUPATIONAL LEAD EXPOSURES
• Workers in up to 100 industries, and indirectly
  their families, may have occupational exposure to
  lead
• Auto Repairers, Battery Manufacturers, Battery
  Recyclers, Bridge Construction/Maintenance
  Workers, Construction Workers, Firing Range
  Instructors, Gas Station Attendants, Glass
  Manufacturers, Lead Mining,

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• Manufacturing Industry, Municipal waste
  Incineration Workers, People who work with Lead
  Solder, Plastic Manufacturers, Plumbers, Pipe
  Fitters, Police Officers, Pottery/Ceramic
  Industry Employees, Printers, Radiator Repair
  Mechanics, Rubber Product Manufacturers, Ship
  Builders, Smelting, Steel Welders/Cutters

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• Major Exposure Pathway
• Inhalation and ingestion of lead-bearing dust and
  fumes
• Occupational exposures result in secondary
  exposures for workers families- workers bring
  home lead-contaminated dust on skin, clothes,
  shoes

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• Prevent secondary exposures by showering/changing
  clothing before coming home
• Children may be exposed if allowed to visit
  worksite
• Many cottage industries located in the home

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• RECALLS
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov
  or 800-638-2772)
• LEAD INFORMATION RESOURCES

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• WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT AGAINST LEAD
  POISONING
• Test Yourself
• Test Your Home
• Keep Your Home Clean
• Keep a Healthy Diet
• Test Your Water
• Educate Yourself

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• FEDERAL LEGISLATION
• National Uniformity for Food Act would make all
  food labeling uniform (pushed by food industry)
• Passed House, facing opposition in US Senate
• Would preempt existing state consumer protection
  laws
• In NYS, would effect 7 laws, one that bans lead
  or mercury in quantities above state standards
• Contact your Senator to oppose this legislation
  as contrary to family health

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• Bush Administration proposed 119 million for the
  Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control,
  down from 167 million in 2005 and 174 million
  in 2004 for Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
• Bush proposal would eliminate grants targeted for
  cities with worst lead poisoning problems