Feed this in your mind: Exposure to lead is definitely a serious health concern that can have devastating effects, especially for kids and pregnant women. Despite the strict water regulation rules, many families in the US are still at risk due to outdated infrastructure, older homes, etc.
Even more many people are still not aware of how lead contamination occurs, what are its signs, etc. Therefore, with an intention to create awareness, we have specially crafted this blog.
In this blog post, we are going to explain how you can know whether you or your family is being exposed to lead.
Also, read our blog post about Link between Water Filters & Better Health
What is Lead – an Overview
Lead is basically a heavy metal that has been used for various applications for many centuries. It is a naturally occurring thing usually found in the earth’s crust.
However, the widespread use of lead is resulting in huge environmental contamination. The element somehow gets its way into water supplies, ultimately dissolving it in; some of the most common sources are:
· Plumbing: Lead pipes and fixtures are most likely to leach lead into the drinking water. This can be especially true when the passing water is less acidic or has low mineral content.
· Occasional Exposure: Specific professions such as construction, paints, and battery manufacturing can also expose workers to lead.
Regardless of sources, everyone should try to prevent themselves from lead, otherwise get ready to fight different health issues.
Health Effects of Lead
The negative effects of leads vary depending on a person's age.
· For children: Due to lead, children can experience development issues learning difficulties, and sometimes mood swings.
· For Adults: They are most likely to experience high blood pressure, kidney damage, reproductive issues, and cognitive decline. Continuous exposure may even lead to several hazardous diseases.
How to Know Your Family Is Exposed to Lead or Not
There are ways multiple ways that you can take to determine if your family is being exposed to lead or some. The most proven ones are discussed below.
1. Perform Visual Inspection:
You can visually inspect your entire home to identify whether your family members are being exposed to lead or not. While inspecting, your focus should be on looking for peeling, chipping, or cracking paint; this can be especially true if your home is built before 1978.
One more thing to note is that lead paint is often found in areas that are prone to wear such as Windows, doors, and even railings.
2. Dust Accumulation:
Do you know? lead dust can also be found on surfaces, especially in areas where lead paint is deteriorating. By performing regular cleaning, you can easily reduce dust, but keep in mind that this may not eliminate the hazard.
3. Test Your Water Quality:
There is a higher probability that your family may get exposed to lead through water. For this reason, it is recommended that you always test your home's water quality. For this, you can follow multiple methods:
One is by purchasing water testing kits. These are usually affordable and can help you easily determine whether the water contains lead particles or not. Alternatively, you can also take a water sample of your home to a certified laboratory, and ask them to test it for lead contamination. This is relatively an expensive option.
Read blog about Strategies for Fixing Poor Water Quality
Some Signs of Lead Contamination in Water:
There are multiple signs that can help you identify that the water is contaminated due to lead. If you are noticing discoloration, then this can be an indication of lead presence. Additionally, if the water has a metallic taste, it is also an indication of lead contamination.
Tips for Preventing Lead Exposure
It is highly crucial to take proactive measures to prevent the exposure of lead for better health. In this section, we are to discuss some of the proven strategies that you can adopt.
1. Keep Your Home Well-Maintained:
First of all, you should keep your home properly maintained. For this, it is recommended to perform regular checks to identify any peeling or chipping paint, and then take necessary steps to fix them. You can consider using wet cleaning methods to eliminate dust.
If budget is not your concern, then you can also consider hiring a specialized lead safe contactor; they will help you make the home lead-free.
2. Install Water Filtration to Treat Water:
To prevent lead exposure through water, you can invest in a reliable water filtration system. Our recommendation is to go for an RO system. It is highly effective at a wide range of hazardous contaminants including lead.
However, it is important to keep in mind that, you have to regularly maintain the filtration system for proper functioning. The maintenance usually includes cleaning and replacement of filters.
3. Focus on Nutrition:
Make sure you provide health diet to your family to keep them safe from lead contamination. Encourage them to eat food that is rich in calcium, iron, vitamin C. All these are greatly contribute to reducing lead absorption in the body.
So, these are some of the most effective strategies that you can follow to mitigate the risk of lead exposure to you family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some sources of lead exposure in homes?
· Plumbing fixtures and pipes
· Imported toys
· Soil contaminated by industrial activities
How can I get my family tested for lead exposure?
The most effective way is to contact your family doctor. They will make an inspection whether your family is safe from lead contamination or not.
Final Words:
Getting exposed to lead continuously for a prolonged time can be really dangerous, especially for kids, pregnant women, and old age people. That’s why, it is essential for every homeowner to be aware of whether their family is being exposed to lead or not. In this blog post, we have explained the procedure in complete detail, hope you will find it helpful.