Lead Information Package - Some Commonly Asked Questions About Lead and Human Health

Table of Contents

• Lead
  • What is lead and where is it found?
  • What are the beneficial uses of lead?
  • How is the use of lead controlled in Canada?
• Sources of Exposure
  • What are the sources of lead exposure?
  • Outdoor Environments
    • Should I be concerned about lead concentrations in the air?
    • Should I be concerned about lead in soils?
    • Is there lead in gasoline?
    • Should I be concerned about lead concentrations in drinking water supplies?
    • What are the potential sources of lead that could get into my home's water supply?
    • How can I reduce the lead levels in tap water?
    • How does the level of lead in water from drinking water fountains compare to the level of lead in tap water?
    • Does the age of my home affect the level of lead in drinking water?
    • What can a municipality do to reduce lead levels in water?
    • How should I dispose of a product that contains lead?
  • Indoor Environments
    • How does lead get into my home?
    • Should I be concerned about household dust contaminated by lead?
    • What types of workplace environments are potentially dangerous sources of lead exposure?
    • How can I determine if the sources of lead in my home contain harmful levels?
    • Why was lead used in paints?
    • How do I know if my home contains lead-based paint?
    • How can I determine if there are dangerous levels of lead in paints used in my home?
    • What should I do about lead-based paint in my home?
    • Why is mechanically removing leaded paint a problem?
    • How can I safely remove leaded paint?
    • How can lead contaminate food?
  • Consumer Products
    • Which consumer products are known to contain lead?
    • Can I or my family be exposed to lead from using products such as lead batteries and computer monitors?
    • How can I determine the lead content of my child's jewellery?
    • Which art supplies may contain lead?
    • What are the risks involved in using art materials that contain lead?
    • As an artist, how can I reduce the risk associated with exposure to lead?
    • How do I know if my blinds contain lead?
    • How do vinyl mini-blinds pose a risk of exposure to lead?
    • How do some candles pose a risk of exposure to lead?
    • Does lead in children's toys represent a hazard?
    • How do lead shot, jiggers and sinkers pose a risk of exposure to lead?
• Exposure and human health
  • What are the health effects at different lead levels?
  • What are the routes of exposure to lead for children and adults?
  • How is inhaled or ingested lead absorbed into the blood?
  • Where is lead stored in the body?
  • How is lead excreted from the body?
  • How do calcium and iron deficiencies affect lead absorption?
  • Why might blood lead levels be higher in women after menopause?
  • What is lead "poisoning" compared to lead "exposure"?
  • Is lead poisoning a common problem in Canada?
  • Are there noticeable and visible signs/symptoms of lead poisoning to look for?
  • How do I find out if I have been exposed to high lead levels? Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to lead?
  • What type of treatment exists to remove lead from blood?
  • How do pregnancy and breastfeeding affect blood lead levels?
  • Why are children and the developing fetus at a greater risk for adverse health effects associated with blood lead levels?
  • What are the blood lead levels in Canadian children? Should children be screened?
  • Where can I get more information?