1) Vinyl mini-blinds from Asia or Mexico.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported ,as of 1996, that Twenty-five million non-glossy, vinyl mini-blinds that where made in China, Taiwan, Mexico, and Indonesia where found to contain lead. They basically announced that ALL imported vinyl mini-blinds contain lead. I would not even mess around with them. Forget the lead test.  Just get rid of them. The problem is that every time you open and close them they could potentially release lead particles. Sunlight breaks down the vinyl which creates lead-contaminated dust. THROW THEM OUT. Aluminum blinds are fine. Either lead test the blinds or The Department of Environmental Quality reported that these blinds can be identified by doing the following,

“Scrape the blinds with a knife and if the paint comes off, they’re metal. If the mark remains

the same color, it’s probably vinyl. Or, tap the blinds with a metal object such as a knife and

listen to the sound. Third, the slats can be inspected at their edges-if the color is the same

as the top and bottom of the slat it probably is vinyl. If the color is bright aluminum it is not

vinyl. Fourth, the brackets holding the blind are usually easily determined to be either vinyl

or metal.”

2) Christmas Lights and Older Fake Christmas Trees
I have never performed a lead test on Christmas lights, exterior and interior, that did not fail. I am not saying that they don’t exist but what I am saying is that I have tested hundreds of these lights and all of them would harm a child’s future.  If you’re interested, Cornell University did a disturbing study that you can find here. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov08/leadXmasLights.sl.html
It’s a very impressive paper that was published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Environmental Health.  Thank you Lelia M. Coyne and Mark R. Pierce for your work. You study was one of the drivers of my lead test site.

3) Electrical Cords
The majority of Electrical cords contain lead. There are a few manufactures that make cords that are lead free but lead has been used to help fire proof cords since there where power cords.  Keep your kids away from them or replace them with ones that are lead free. We have all be disturbed by that warning from the state of California that states,

“WARNING: Handling the power cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause [cancer and] birth defects or other reproductive harm. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING”

What pisses me off about this warning is the “known to the State of California” bit. Yeah just California knows that lead will destroy your child’s future.

I have lead tested many power cords and extension cords. Trust me, they contain lead. Some had so much lead in them that the lead test almost glowed pink. Wash your hands after you handle any type of power cord. The most egregious ones where those brown power cords that you probably found in your garage from the former owner/renter.  Perform a lead test on them or just throw them out. Buy lead free ones.

4) The soil around Your Home
If your home was built prior to 1978 I would just assume that the soil around your home contains lead. Prior to 1978 lead was in most paint both exterior and interior. Over the yeas lead leached down the side of your home and into the ground.

5) Water
Lead levels in your water are likely to be highest if your home that has lead pipes and or copper pipes with lead solder. Plumbing installed prior to 1930 probably contains lead pipes. Plumbing installed prior to 1985 may contain lead solder in the copper joints. Brass faucets and ball valves may also contain lead.

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Effects of Lead Poisoning

The effects of lead poisoning are compounded the younger the child is. Brains and nervous systems of children under the age of six are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Other effects of lead Poisoning include retarding bone development and bone mass, digestive problems and  reproductive problems later in life. Learning disabilities and lower IQ have been reported as a direct result of lead exposure.

In children, lead can cause:

• Nervous system and kidney damage.
• Learning disabilities, ADD, and decreased intelligence.
• Speech and behavior problems.
• Poor coordination.
• Decreased bone and muscle growth.
• Long term Hearing damage.Take you child to the doctor if you believe that your child has been poisoned by lead. The doctor will be able to do blood testes to better assess the effects of lead poisoning on your child.

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