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Environmental Health : lead

Childhood Lead Poisoning

Lead is one of the most significant and widespread environmental hazards for children in Maryland. Children are at greatest risk from birth to age six, during the period when their neurological systems are developing. The major source of exposure for children is lead paint dust from deteriorated lead paint or home renovation.

Lead and Health

Sustained exposure to lead can cause long-lasting neurological damage or death. Effects of sustained exposure include learning disabilities, shortened attention span, irritability, and lowered IQ.

Residential Lead Exposures in Maryland

For most children, lead exposure occurrs through normal hand to mouth activity around lead-containing dust. Deteriorating lead paint and home renovation in homes built before 1950 is of special concern. Homes built before 1978 may also contain lead paint.

What Programs Protect your child from Lead

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) enforces laws that reduce the risk of lead exposure in rental units built before 1950. MDE also keeps a list of inspected rental units and monitors the trends in blood lead levels in children. Local health departments manage cases of elevated blood lead levels in children, investigate instances of high lead exposure, enforce the standards required of lead inspectors, and provide information to educate parents, renters, landlords, homeowners, and health care providers.

What you can do?

  • Ask a doctor to test your child if you are concerned about him or her being exposed to lead.
  • Talk to the Maryland Department of the Environment or your local health department about testing paint and dust from your home if you live in a house or apartment built before 1978, especially if young children live with you or visit you.
  • Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, and frequently wash a child’s hands, pacifiers, and toys to reduce exposure to lead.
  • Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead, and most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.
  • Avoid using home remedies (such as azarcon, greta, pay-loo-ah) and cosmetics (such as kohl, alkohl) that contain lead.
  • Take basic steps to decrease your exposure to lead if you remodel buildings built before 1978 or if your work or hobbies involve working with lead-based products. For example, shower and change clothes after finishing the task.

To see frequently asked questions and information about rental property registrations and certificates, visit the Maryland Department of the Environment website

In Baltimore, contact the Baltimore Housing and Code Enforcement.