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While lead in paint was banned in 1978 and in plumbing in 1986, it can persist in older buildings. If you’re not sure whether your home contains this hazard, testing is simpler than you might think. Here are some ways you can test your paint and water for lead—and what to do if you think you have a problem.
When you should test for lead
According to the EPA, homes built before 1978 have a chance of containing lead paint. While the use of lead in paint was much more common before 1940, since it wasn’t banned entirely until 1978, there could be contamination in homes up to that date. If you don’t know when your home was built, or if you don’t know if it has been tested for lead paint, you can perform some tests yourself to determine if lead is present, especially if you plan to sand or scrape.
When to test for lead in your drinking water
If your home was built before 1986, or in some cases if your water source such as a municipal distribution system was built before 1986, you could have lead contamination in your drinking water. The ability for lead to leach out of pipes, solder, or fixtures depends on the acidity of your local water, so it’s not automatically the case that you’ll have contamination just because the building you live in is old. However, the acidity of local water can change due to drought, population size changes, or other environmental factors, so it’s a good idea to test your water if you suspect that your pipes have any lead components.
When to test for lead in your soil
Another place for contamination to look out for is soil. Soil can become contaminated by flaking paint from older buildings, from exhaust from vehicles prior to the use of unleaded gasoline, and from former industrial sites. Checking for flaking or deteriorating paint, and looking at land use records can help to determine if your yard is at risk for contamination.
Why preventing exposure is important
The good news is that you can test your home for lead contamination and there are steps you can take to minimize risk of exposure. Since children tend to be more susceptible to lead poisoning, people with kids under the age of 6 should call a professional if they suspect there might be lead in their home. However, dust from flaking paint and prolonged exposure to lead from contaminated water can affect adults too, so it never hurts to test if you’re not sure.
Home testing for lead paint
To test for lead in paint yourself, there are two main types of tests: sodium sulfide swabs for light-colored paint or sodium rhodizonate swabs for darker colors besides pink or red. The two main types certified by the EPA are Lead Check and D Lead. Choose the test kit that’s right for your paint color, and then carefully follow the instructions on the package to test many areas of your home. Lead test kits are available from hardware stores, and some municipalities have free test kits on request. This method of testing is not suitable for homes with children under the age of 6 or for landlords requiring testing—these situations require a licensed professional.
Home testing for lead in your water
To test for lead in your water, the biggest challenge will be not running any of your taps for 12 hours. “First draw” water that comes from the tap after the pipes have been unused for a period of time has the most accumulated toxins, and will give you the best results. You can get test kits for your tap from any hardware store, and also from many municipalities and government agencies. Make sure to follow the directions on the package for accurate results.
Home testing for lead in your soil
For soil tests, your best bet is to send a sample to a lab. Because soil has so many different elements to it, it’s harder to test accurately yourself. You can use a home collection kit to mail your soil to a testing lab, or you can check locally to see if soil testing kits are available for free.
When to call in a professional
If any of your samples test positive for lead, or if you have children under the age of 6, you should contact a professional to test for lead and advise you about removal or abatement. Exposure to lead is dangerous, so any control measures are best left to the pros. Many companies will offer free estimates to test your home and take precautions against lead contamination.
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