Families and caregivers of young children in pre-1990 homes should have paint tested to find out if there is a risk of lead exposure from paint in their home. There is currently no known safe level of lead exposure.

• Lead in paint can be a serious health hazard when it’s peeling, flaking, chipping, or within reach of children who may chew on it.
• Infants, children and pregnant women are at higher risk. Toddlers and children can ingest lead because of their frequent hand-to-mouth activity and tendency to mouth or chew objects. Children absorb and retain more lead into their bodies compared to adults. For pregnant women, even low levels of lead can affect the growth of the developing baby.