How Can We Tell if Our Home's Paint Contains Lead?

My family recently moved into a very old home, and we're afraid that the walls may have been painted with lead paint. How can we tell for sure?
– Samuel

If your home was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint. This can be dangerous to children, as exposure to lead can cause serious problems like learning and hearing disabilities, behavior problems, and delayed development.

If you're worried about lead levels in your home, have a professional test the paint.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2010

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