Get the Lead Out

Lead Testing

Lead rhymes with dead.

It is a dangerous substance when it makes it way into the human body.

Because of leads' toxicity it was outlawed by the USA in 1978 for use in household paints by Federal Law.

Leads' use was outlawed in the 1980’s for use in gasoline. Its replacement was MTBE, but, it has proven to be as toxic and is now found in almost every surface water in America.

The EPA states that in 1978 there were an estimated 13.5 million children in the United States with elevated blood lead levels (i.e., 10µg/dl).

By 2002, that number had dropped to 310,000 children, due to the removal of the lead from house paints and gasoline

To learn more about the household issue of Lead in the environment, the following US government document is a good source:

Testing Your Home For Lead

In Paint, Dust, And Soil

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadtest.pdf

Keep in mind that if your home was built after the year 1978 in the USA, there is a very low possibility of having lead in painted household surfaces.

Other sources of lead you can have contact with at home can come from:

• Cosmetics especially lipstick
• Toys
• Articles of furniture
• Jewelry
• Vinyl Blinds
• Candles
  
• Vinyl Surfaces; Chairs, cushions, etc.

To test your home surfaces for the presence of Lead here is a link to a website where you can purchase a Lead testing kit.

Lead Test Kit:

http://www.leadinspector.com/product/index.php

The test kit is simple, but is not totally accurate in all uses!!!!!

Here is a quote from a government website:

“In some circumstances, interference from other compounds such as iron, zinc or tin, or from color or dirt transfer from the product to the test kit can lead to a false positive result where no lead is present. Additionally, in other circumstances, such as for some children's metal jewelry or other products, the presence of a surface coating over the lead may result in a negative test result even where a lead hazard is present. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the kits can vary and sometimes may lead to a positive result for items where a small quantity of lead may be present but may not pose a significant risk of injury or illness.”

If you want to get an accurate test for any substance in your home, you should send a sample to a Lead Testing Lab.

Visit this web page for the list of EPA approved Lead Testing Companies:

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nllaplist.pdf

If you want to collect samples yourself, it is recommended that you call the Test Laboratory first, for instructions on how to collect and handle the sample.

A list of National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) laboratories is available from The National Lead Information Center (NLIC) by calling

1-800-424-5323 (LEAD), follow the Voice mail prompts to get a live operator who can answer your Lead related questions.

If you want a Home Inspection done by a trained tester, the above agency, 1-800-424-5323 ,can provide you with information of how to find one in your local area.

The website of The National Lead Information Center is:

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm

On the website link is a contact form for questions, hours of operation for the Lead Information Hotline and links.

Get the Lead Out has taken on a new meaning these days: Lead out of the toys, makeup, lipstick, vinyl, etc, etc.

Whether it is pH testing your urine,testing your home water supply for chemicals,Checking EMF and radiation levels in your home,or testing your home and office air quality, an Alkaline Lifestyle is having a complete understanding of your total environment, both within and without.