About Lead

How Does a Child Get Lead Poisoning?

Lead in paint was banned in 1978, but Detroit children are disproportionately affected by lead poisoning since more than 90% of homes in Detroit were built before 1978.  The most common cause of lead in the home is dust created by friction – opening and closing of windows and doors which creates lead dust. Eating paint chips can also poison a child.

Lead dust in microscopic and often cannot be seen – small children love to explore, crawl, touch things, and put things like toys and fingers in their mouth and often play on the floor –  so it’s really easy for them to transfer the dust into their bodies.