It's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

For the week of Oct. 18 - 24, the Environmental Protection Agency is observing National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week to focus on the importance of educating parents and children about the dangerous health effects of lead exposure, especially lead paint hazards in housing.

This year's slogan -- "What's on Your Walls?" -- aims to raise awareness that the greatest lead exposures can occur when paint on the walls and trim in a home is disturbed. Lead paint has the potential to affect many generations living in a home as a result of lead dust created from disturbing older paint during renovations and repair activities.

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to children.

To protect against lead hazards associated with common renovation activities, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

To learn more about lead paint safety for your home, check out the EPA's Lead Awareness Program.