Lead exposure

Lead is a metal that is found naturally around us. This means it is in soil, rock, air and water in different amounts depending on where you live. In the past, it was used to make lots of things, like petrol, paint, pipes, toys and even food tins, cooking pots and make-up. The good news is that lead was banned from products such as paint and petrol many years ago. But, there are still sources of lead in and around the places where we live and play, in layers of old paint or water pipes. There is no safe level of lead exposure and even low levels of lead have been shown to affect IQ, ability to concentrate and to learn in young children. Lead can also affect the brain and nervous system.

Who is most at risk?

We can all be harmed by exposure to lead. 

Children under the age of 6 years old are most susceptible because their nervous system is still developing.  They are also most likely to come into contact with lead contaminated objects because they put their hands or other objects into their mouths. Pregnant women are also at risk as lead that the mother is exposed to can pass to the unborn baby.

People living in older housing (pre 1970s) may have lead water pipes or paint.

How could I be exposed to lead?

Although we no longer use lead in paint, petrol or in water pipes, it is still in our homes or in products from other countries. Some industries or hobbies such as fishing, shooting and stained glass making, may still use lead.

You may be exposed through the following ways:

• Young children may eat or chew things that contain lead. This can include lead paint, old toys containing or painted with lead or lead contaminated soil from the garden.
• If you live in or are renovating an old house, such as those painted before the 1970s, layers of old paint could contain lead and become dust when removed.
• Through your work or hobby.
• By drinking water from household taps when this water runs through lead pipes. This usually only happens in houses built before the 1970s.
• By drinking water from household taps where lead solder has been used for jointing pipes.
• By using some traditional medicines and cosmetics or cooking pots that contain lead.

What to do if you think you have been exposed to lead?

The good news is that our exposure to lead has fallen considerably over the last 30 years and there are simple ways to prevent exposure.

• Regularly wash children’s hands and toys so if they are exposed to any lead dust, it is washed off.
• Keep an eye on what children are putting in their mouths.
• Avoid using traditional folk medicines, cosmetics or cookware that are not lead-free or that have been imported from abroad.
• Make sure that your child’s toys are stamped with a ‘CE’ Mark., This means that they have been checked and are safe.
• If you live in home built before the 1970s assume that there may be some lead-based paint. Regularly wipe down painted surfaces. Make sure children avoid areas with peeling paint.
• If you are concerned that your house may have lead pipes in it, you can get your water tested for free.
• If you are worried that someone in your family may have been exposed to lead, please talk to your GP.

What is our role?

We are committed to reducing people’s exposure to lead.  We are part of the Water Health Partnership for Wales which is developing measures to reduce lead in drinking water and are working with a range of stakeholders to better understand how people are exposed to lead.  We also support GPs and local health departments who are treating children and adults exposed to high levels of lead and, in 2017, we were the first country in the UK to introduce a lower public health threshold for lead in blood to ensure an earlier identification of lead exposure.