All About Lead
What do you know about lead?
Some people think lead is the thin dark part that makes a mark when you write with a pencil. But that is really graphite, not lead.
Some people say, "Get the lead out!" when they want you to hurry up and do something faster.
Some people say " It's as heavy as lead" to describe how much something weighs.
That's because lead is a very heavy metal with many uses, But it is also a highly toxic substance.
Here are some facts about lead:
- Until 1978, many people painted their homes with lead-based paint. In many older houses, when the paint begins to flake off, lead paint chips and dust are on the floor where children play.
- Gasoline also used to be leaded. For many years the exhaust from leaded gas deposited lead in the dust, especially along roads and highways where there was a lot of traffic.
- Some older water pipes were made of lead, too. The lead from these pipes sometimes leaches into the drinking water.
- Children play outside in dirt that contains lead, or inside where lead-based paint can chip off. When they put their hands in their mouths or track dirt into the house, they can absorb lead into their bodies.
- Then lead can cause many serious health problems. Children exposed to lead poisoning can have a lower IQ, behavior problems, hyperactivity and serious learning disabilities.
