Frequent Questions About Lead at Superfund Sites

Lead is a common contaminant at Superfund sites across the country, where it presents a risk to human health and the environment. Find answers to frequent questions about lead at Superfund sites, including information on understanding risks, protecting your family and home and reporting concerns.

For questions about lead related to a specific Superfund site, search for Superfund sites where you live. If you still have questions, contact the community involvement coordinator or remedial project manager for the specific Superfund site. Contact information is listed on each site's webpage.

What is the potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites?

The potential danger posed by historical lead smelting sites varies by site and depends upon whether a completed exposure pathway to the contaminant exists. For example, if site surfaces are redeveloped and, as a result, covered, there is no direct contact. Therefore, without such exposure, there is no current human health risk. If direct contact is occurring, the potential depends upon a number of factors such as the frequency of exposure and who is exposed, e.g., child, pregnant woman, etc. For more information on lead at Super fund sites, visit Lead at Superfund Sites.

Question Number: 23002-33313

What can I do to protect my family from lead contamination that was found in my neighborhood?

If environmental exposure to lead is suspected, you should contact your local or state environmental office to determine if there are known or suspected sources of lead in the area. If there are known or suspected sources of lead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following recommendations for reducing exposure to lead.

• Talk to your state or local health department about testing paint and dust from your home for lead.
• Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
• Pregnant women and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation. They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed.
• Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources. Until environmental cleanup is completed, parents should clean and isolate all sources of lead. They should close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on walls. Temporary barriers, such as contact paper or duct tape, can be applied to cover holes in walls or to block children’s access to other sources of lead.
• Regularly wash children’s hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both are known lead sources.
• Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components. Because household dust is a major source of lead, parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every 2-3 weeks. Window sills and wells can also contain high levels of lead dust. They should be kept clean. If feasible, windows should be shut to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces or opened from the top sash.
• Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes. Parents should plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch, or wood chips, if possible. Until the bare soil is covered, parents should move play areas away from bare soil and away from the sides of the house. EPA also recommends that children eat nutritious foods as specified in the National Dietary Guidelines because children with good diets absorb less lead. 

Question Number: 23002-33311

How do I contact EPA about lead concerns in my area?

You may call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or visit our Contact Us About Lead page. You can also report violations online. 

Question Number: 23002-33312