Resource on Protecting Children from Lead Now Available in 11 Additional Languages
Released Jan. 17, 2025
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the “Lead Poisoning and Your Children” pamphlet in 11 additional languages. The pamphlet was previously only available in English and Spanish. This resource highlights seven steps to protect children from exposure to lead and lead poisoning including getting a child tested for lead, keeping a home clean to minimize dust and dirt that may contain lead, and hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for home renovations.
Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure, which can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more. In adults, exposure can cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may cause cancer. Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of six living there.
Today’s action will expand the number of people who can be informed about the hazards from lead to children’s health and how families and individuals can protect children from lead exposure and lead poisoning. EPA selected the additional languages for the “Lead Poisoning and Your Children” pamphlet based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey on languages spoken in American homes other than English.
This pamphlet is one of several EPA resources on lead available in languages other than English including the “Renovate Lead-Safe” fact sheets and webpages for do-it-yourselfers which are available in 13 languages including English. EPA also has a Spanish-language website with information about lead.
The “Lead Poisoning and Your Children” pamphlet is now available in: