Under the rules of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (commonly called 'Title 10'), disclosure about lead in homes may be required. Here are the words from the folks at HUD and the EPA:

"ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUY, RENT, OR RENOVATE A HOME BUILT BEFORE 1978?

Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. By 1996, federal law will require that individuals receive certain information before renting, buying, or renovating pre-1978 housing:

LANDLORDS will have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases will include a federal form about lead-based paint.

SELLERS will have to disclose known information on lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts will include a federal form about lead-based paint in the building. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards.

RENOVATORS will have to give you this pamphlet before starting work.

If you want more information on these requirements (and even more information about lead), call the National Lead Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD or the EPA's Lead Information.

O.K., O.K., you have heard such stories before. Asbestos, radon, second-hand smoke, etc., now its lead. And I bet that your grandma lived to 96, ate out of lead glazed dishes, and drank bottles full of lead containing "stomach elixirs".

Based on what I have learned and read, lead can be a concern to everyone, but the greatest concerns regarding lead contamination are (in an approximate order of priority):

1. Pregnant women and the developing fetus.
2. Young and growing children.
3. Children living in old houses which are in poor condition.
4. Lead poisoning concerns are greatest for the fetus, pregnant women, and for young children.
5. People living in older homes which are/were renovated without proper dust control.
6. People who drink lead contaminated water.
7. People exposure to contaminated areas, industrial areas, or dusty construction sights.
8. Users of glazed dishes which contain lead. Most of the household items sold in the US in the last 15 years were tested for lead. Specialty items, imported items, and "the lovely one of a kind bowl picked up at a market during the last trip", are more likely to contain lead containing glazes.
9. People who are buying, selling, renting, leasing, or renovating houses. As with many other issues like this, lead is a health issue and also an economic issue. It is now also a legal issue, the Lead Disclosure Act is the law in the US.
10. People who have some decorative cut glass made out of lead crystal, live in a well maintained Victorian home with lead paint, and use the lead glazed pottery to store a collection of lead soldiers.

    In other words, most contamination occurs when the lead is released into the air or water, and is ingested or inhaled.

As explained by the EPA:

"Trained professionals use a range of methods when checking your home, including:

• Visual inspection of paint condition and location.
• Lab tests of paint samples.
• Surface dust tests.
• A portable x-ray fluorescence machine.

Home test kits for lead are available, but the federal government is still testing their reliability. These tests should not be the only method used before doing renovations or to assure safety."

(More information from the National Lead Information Clearinghouse)

"If you suspect that your house has lead hazards, you can take some immediate steps to reduce your family's risk:

• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Clean up paint chips immediately.
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead. REMEMBER: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH PRODUCTS TOGETHER SINCE THEY CAN FORM A DANGEROUS GAS.
• Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
• Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time.
• Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
• Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
• Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and low-fat dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead."