Lead was first used as a pigment for paint in the early 1800's. Paints containing lead pigments and drying agents were in wide spread use until the 1940's. The development of latex paints decreased their use through the 50's and 60's. In 1978, the Consumer Products Safety Commission lowered the amount of lead allowed in paint for consumer use to 0.06 percent. However, this ban did not apply to commercial and non-residential paints. Lead-based paints have been found in some homes built after 1978.

Lead-based paints can be found in homes of every socio-economic group, from the affluent to the poor and from inner city to rural areas. Houses built before 1950 often contain lead-based paint. Seventy-four percent of all private housing built before 1980 containing some lead-based paint, so the possibility of lead poisoning exists even in relatively new homes.

The problem with lead-based paints occurs when the paint starts to deteriorate or is disturbed. Chipping and peeling can create an extremely fine dust which can not be seen with the naked eye. It is this dust that poses the greatest threat of lead poisoning. Large amounts of lead dust can be created when renovation work is being done. The dust can be breathed by people in the home or it may settle out on surfaces. These objects can include toys, hands, furniture, floors, food, etc.

Paint chips on the other hand are much larger and tend to fall on whatever surface is below. If these chips are in high traffic areas of the home, they may be broken up into the fine dust. Common places to find these chips are on window sills, along baseboards, and foundation walls. Children playing in these areas are at increased risk of getting lead poisoning. The problem is made worse by a behavior of children called pica. Children can also consume lead dust by chewing on toys, hands, woodwork, and other objects that have come in contact with contaminated areas.

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