You might have heard that lead is harmful to your health, but do you actually know what the effects of lead exposure are? Lead damages your nervous system, your brain, your kidneys, your blood cells, and it can lead to birth defects. Children are especially vulnerable, since their brains and nervous system are still developing. On top of that, very young children tend to put things in their mouths, so if they find flaking lead paint, it could end up being eaten.
How will you know if your home has lead in it or not? Well, if your home was built in the last 50 years, you can breathe easier, since lead has been banned since the 70s. If your home is older than that, you will need to find out by checking common places where lead might have been used. If you have metal pipes in your plumbing, you will find that lead pipes scratch very easily. Lead paint on the other hand will be recognizable by how it flakes like a lizard skin.
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