Borough of Fair Lawn

Health

Lead FAQ

Where can Lead be found?

Paint found in homes built before 1978
Imported consumer products such as cosmetics, spices, cultural home remedies, pottery, and toys
Take-home lead from hobbies and occupations
Water pumped through leaded pipes
Contaminated soil and air

How are children exposed to lead and why is it harmful?

Children are exposed to lead by swallowing or inhaling it.
Children under the age of 6 are at greatest risk for health problems caused by lead exposure. The health effects of lead exposure are more harmful to younger children than older children and adults because their bodies are still developing, and they are growing so rapidly. Young children also tend to put their hands or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths.
Lead affects the brain and nervous system. In children, this can result in:
- Lowered intelligence
- Hyperactivity
- Attention deficits
- Developmental problems
- Decreased hearing

How can I prevent my child's exposure to lead?

Wash your child’s hands frequently before eating, after playing outside or on the floor, and before sleeping.
Wash toys, bottles, pacifiers and other objects that children handle and put in their mouths
Leave shoes at the entrance to your home.
Keep your child away from bare soil.
Feed your child healthy foods high in iron and calcium.
Store foods and liquids in lead-free containers.
Clean floors and windowsills using a damp mop or sponge and detergent.
Know if your home has lead-based paint before doing renovations or remodeling.
Use lead-safe work practices or hire a Certified Renovator if your home was built before 1978.
Use only cold tap water to prepare formula, for drinking and cooking.
Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking.
Wash work clothes separately if a job uses lead.

How do I know if my child has been exposed to lead?

A lead test is the only way to know if your child has lead poisoning. In a lead test, a blood sample is taken from your child’s finger or arm. The test measures how much lead is in the blood.
Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick.
In New Jersey, it is law that children are tested for lead at 12 and 24 months of age, and all children under six must be tested. Health care providers offer blood lead testing, or can connect you to a lab that does. Children without health insurance can be tested for free at their local health department.

Where can I get my child tested?

Your child’s health care provider may offer blood lead testing in the office or provide a prescription to take your child to a laboratory.
If your child does not have health insurance, free testing is available through Bergen County Health Department. To schedule a lead screening call: 201-634-2804. For more info on the program, visit: Bergen County Childhood Lead Program

How do I know if I have lead-based paint in my home and how do I safely remove old paint?

Assume that your home has lead-based paint if it was built before 1978. If you are not sure, hire a Lead Evaluation Contractor. Click here for a list of Certified Lead Evaluation Contractors in NJ

What should I do if I want to have lead-based paint removed from my house?

An online resource enabling users to view drinking water information for New Jersey water systems:

Potential Lead Exposure Mapping (PLEM) project provides a publicly available mapping tool to show potential sources of lead exposure. The tool can be used by local health officers, community groups and other members of the public to help identify the potential environmental sources of a child’s lead exposure.