|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Lead |
|
|
|
Lead mainly enters people's bodies by ingestion. Lead can be found in soil, dust, drinking water and food.
Very little lead is found in the air and lead is not absorbed through the skin. There are many measures people can take to limit the amount of lead that enters into their body.
Reducing lead exposure...
Links to sites external to the Toronto Public Health Web site are provided as a convenience and their inclusion does not imply that Toronto Public Health endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of these sites.
Reducing lead exposure in general
To reduce lead exposure, clean frequently, including:
- Vacuum carpets and upholstery at least once per week
- Damp-mop (dusting with a damp cloth rather than a dry cloth, which disperses the dust but does not remove it) floors and other hard surfaces
- Carefully dispose vacuum cleaner bags and dust cloths
- Wash hands after cleaning and before eating
- Keep play areas or surfaces clean and wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly - by using a wet or damp mop or rag to clean floors or surfaces
Eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. These nutrients will lessen the amount of lead absorbed in the body.
Reducing lead exposure from drinking water
Use fresh cold water to limit the amount of lead you consume:
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking or preparing baby formula
- Let tap water run cold to the touch before drinking it, especially if it has been standing in the pipes for a few hours
- You can conserve water by using a pitcher to store water in your refrigerator rather than flushing each time you need drinking water
- Other activities such as showering and flushing toilets can also minimize the need to flush taps
- Boiling water will not remove lead
Reducing lead exposure during renovation
Keep your home in good repair and take care during renovations:
- Renovate safely - get advice from a qualified contractor on how best to deal with old painted surfaces that require renovation or repair
- Keep painted surfaces in good repair and wipe up any paint chips immediately with a damp cloth
- Take special care of dust control during renovations
- Heat stripping lead paint releases lead into the air and is dangerous
- Keep pregnant women and children out of renovated spaces until the work is finished and well cleaned
- Be a dust buster - regularly clean up house dust by wet mopping and carefully disposing of vacuum cleaner bags and dust cloths
- Wash hands after cleaning
Reducing lead exposure from soil
Limit the amount of soil and dirt that comes into your home from outside:
- Make sure children and adults remove their shoes at the door and use washable door mats
- Try to ensure that children play on grass and not bare soil
- Wash children's feet after they play barefoot outdoors
Reducing lead exposure from consumer products
Be aware that many items may contain lead especially if they are old or do not say they are lead-free:
- Check with Health Canada for information on consumer product safety
- Keep children away from old painted toys and old furniture and costume jewellery
- Do not let a child mouth painted surfaces
Reducing lead exposure from other sources
- Make sure that herbal or traditional medicines have been approved by Health Canada
 |
 |
|
|
|
