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Lead aware housekeeping

The most common way for people, to take lead into our bodies, is by way of "leaded" dust. This is especially so for young children because as all parents know, pre school children often put everything in their mouths, which introduces leaded dust into their stomachs. This dust can come from many sources including deteriorating paint, leaded petrol exhaust, ceiling void dust leakage, tracked in soil or dust brought home on the clothes of a worker or lead hobbyist.

Very small amounts of lead are known to cause serious health effects in humans, especially young children. This damage can be occurring when symptoms are not showing. Remember, a lot of lead contaminated dust is too fine to be seen. If you live in a home which has been renovated, or built before 1970, is situated on a busy street or is near a lead industry, these lead aware housekeeping tips will help reduce your family’s risk of exposure.

Mopping and Wet Wiping
Throw your broom and feather duster away! Use wet wiping and mopping to replace all dusting and sweeping. When cleaning is done "dry", a large amount of dust is lifted into the air, only to settle on surfaces again later. Wet mop hard floor surfaces and wet wipe bench tops, furniture, toys and window sills etc (especially child accessible surfaces) using a high phosphate detergent (e.g.liquid sugar soap) in the water.

After you vacuum, dust stays suspended for some time, so allow at least an hour (preferably with doors closed to minimise air flow and dust disturbance) before you wet wipe. This is to maximise dust capture during the wet wiping process. Of course the longer you can allow between vacuuming and dusting the better (e.g. overnight).

High phosphate detergents are extremely efficient at taking up lead particles in the cleaning process. Rinse the mop and change the water regularly. Some users find it harsh and it is recommended that you use gloves to protect your skin. The frequency of mopping depends on the degree of lead contamination. Within 10 metres of a major traffic artery or other source of airborne lead, it should be done twice a week. Further away, preferably once a week, but at least once a fortnight.

Carpets and Vacuuming
Remove carpet if possible, as hard floor surfaces are easier to clean. Ordinary vacuum cleaners cannot filter all fine lead particles, so if possible use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a ducted vacuum system to prevent the redistribution of dust particles in the home. If neither of these options are available, try to vacuum when young children are not present and allow time for dust to settle before they are allowed into the room. It is best to vacuum once a week rather than every day, because of the dust disturbance. Carpets are very difficult to clean once they are contaminated (as are curtains and other soft furnishings).

Pets
Animal coats can harbour considerable amounts of dust, so keep pets outside and ensure children wash their hands after patting them. Any animal bedding that may be accessible to children should be washed with liquid sugar soap. Take off shoes at the door or use washable or hoseable mats to prevent dust being tracked into the home by pets or family members.

Laundry
Regularly wash soft toys, cloth books and security blankets. Hard toys should be washed in liquid sugar soap and rinsed well. Workers, shooters and hobbyists can all bring home lead dust on their clothes or contaminate the area that they work in, if home based. People such as painters, panel beaters, motor mechanics, car battery workers, builders, mine workers, leadlighters and furniture restorers could all pose a lead risk to children and care should be taken. Keep children away from workshops and garages and clean the area thoroughly. Do not shake or leave dusty clothes near children. When laundering work clothes use a phosphate detergent (e.g. liquid sugar soap) and wash them separately from family clothes. Rinse out the machine afterwards, again with a phosphate solution, before the next load to prevent cross contamination.

Preferably launder work clothes at work.

General
Regular hand washing can make a huge difference to a child's intake of lead dust. Always wash hands with soap after playing outside, touching pets and always before eating. It is also important to dry them well as damp hands will naturally pick up more dust. Fingernails should be kept short and a nail brush used regularly. Dummies should be kept clean and pinned to clothing. Having a clean dummy is better than putting dusty objects in the mouth. Young children need frequent meals and snacks - up to six a day as they absorb less lead with something in their stomach. Their diet should be high in iron, protein, calcium, Vitamin C and zinc and avoid high fat foods.

A cleaning system recommended by the US EPA, known as the "three bucket" system may be useful if you are concerned about lead levels, particularly after a renovation or if you live on a very busy road. This system is not required for "everyday" housekeeping!

Three bucket cleaning system, You will need :

1. Three buckets (1 - for detergent, 2 - for clean water, 3 - for emptying used water into)
2. Two mops or rags, one for clean and one for dirty
3. A lead specific cleaning detergent (e.g. liquid sugar soap)

Method:

1. Place mop into detergent solution, wipe area
2. Squeeze into empty bucket
3. Place second mop into clean water and wipe area and squeeze into empty bucket
4. Replace water every room or every half hour whichever comes first
5. Pour water down toilet
6. Start at top and furthest corner from door

This fact sheet was produced with the assistance of the NSW Government.

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The LEAD Group Inc. Fact Sheet Index

1. About the Global Lead Advice and Support Service (GLASS)
2. Main Sources of Lead
3. How Would You Know If You or Your Child Was lead poisoned?
4. Lead aware housekeeping
5. Ceiling dust & lead poisoning
6. Is your yard lead safe?
    你的院子是铅安全的吗
7. Health Impacts of lead poisoning
8. Rotary Questionnaire
9. Lead poisoned Pets and Your Family
10. Childhood Lead Poisoning Risk Factor Questionnaire
11. Is Your Child Safe From Lead? - What Can You Do About Lead? pdf
12. Lead in Drinking Water in Australia
13. Have We Really Resolved The Lead Issue?
14. The Importance of the Availability of "Spot Tests" for Lead in Paint
15. Pregnant or Planning a Pregnancy
16. Breastfeeding and Lead
17. Lead in breast milk
18. Beware The Lead In Lead Lighting
19. Renting and Lead
20. What to do if you have too much lead in your tank water.pdf
21. Lead Contamination in Stormwater.pdf
22. Contamination At Shooting Ranges.pdf
23. Banned: Leaded Wick Candles
24. Lead, Ageing and Death
      铅，衰老和死亡
25. Metal miniatures: How to minimise the risks of lead poisoning and contamination
26. 7 Point Plan for the MANAGEMENT OF LEAD by Australian parents and carers
27. Countries where Leaded Petrol is Possibly Still Sold for Road Use, As at 10^th May 2010
28. Lead Poisoning And The Brain - Cognitive Deficits And Mental Illness
29. Facts and Firsts of Lead
30. Lead mining royalties by state and territory
31. Lead Mining Stewardship - Grey Lead and the Role of The LEAD Group
32. Preventative Strategies of The LEAD Group
33. What do Doctors need to do about Lead?
34. A Naturopath's Experience Of Lead & People With Diagnosed Mental Illness
35. Case File: Helping Manage Australian Lead in Petrol - How GLASS Works
36. Glass Web & Service-Users, Experts & Volunteers, by Country; Countries with Leaded Petrol for Road Use & Worst Pollution
37. Lead in ceiling dust
38. Lead paint & ceiling dust management - how to do it lead-safely
39. Esperance parliamentary inquiry follow-up factsheet: Where to from Here??
      埃斯佩兰斯议会调查后续情况说明书：从这里去哪里？？
40. Broken Hill lead miners factsheet 1893 with Note 20081015
41. Helping a Doctor Help 35,000 Lead-Poisoned People Around the Lead Smelter at La Oroya in Peru
      Ayuda a un doctor que ayuda 35,000 personas envenenadas por plomo alrededor de la fundidora de plomo en la Oroya-Peru
      案例档案：帮助一个医生救助在秘鲁的拉奥罗亚的铅冶炼厂周围的35，000铅中毒的人民—全球铅咨询和支持的服务机构是怎末工作的
42. Fact sheet for Australian toy importers and traders
43. Iron Nutrition & Lead Toxicity pdf
      Informe de Acciones – Hierro y Plomo en la Nutrición pdf
     情况说明书—铁的营养和铅的毒性 pdf
44. Sanitarium-Are You getting Enough Iron pdf
45. Do-It-Yourself-Lead-Safe-Test-Kits-flyer
46. Blood lead testing: who to test, when, and how to respond to the result
47. Dangers of a blood lead level above 2 µg/dL and below 10 µg/dL to both adults and children pdf
48. Lead Exposure & Alzheimer’s Disease: Is There A Link?  
49. In CHINA - Blood lead testing: who to test, when, and how to respond to the result
      在中国血铅测试：谁应该去检查，什么时候，如何对待不同的测试结果
50. Why you should have your ceiling dust removed before you take advantage of the Australian government's Energy Efficient Homes Package: Insulation Program
51. Alperstein et al Lead Alert - A Guide For Health Professionals 1994 pdf
52. Ceiling Dust WorkCover Guide Lee Schreiber Final Nov 1999 pdf
53. What can I do about climate change AND lead?
54. The Need for Expert Clinical Assessments in Diagnosis Of Heavy Metal Poisoning
55. Why you should have your ceiling dust removed before you have insulation installed
56. Thirty Thought-Starters on Ceiling Void Dust in Homes
57. Pectin: Panacea for both lead poisoning and lead contamination
58. Nutrients that reduce lead poisoning June 2010 PDF
59. Lead poisoning and menopause PDF
60. Fact sheet For Schoolkids From Professor Knowlead About Lead PDF

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Last Updated 18 August 2010
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PO Box 161 Summer Hill NSW 2130 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9716 0014 Fax: +61 2 9716 9005