According to the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), lead is one of the top ranked hazardous substances (Saminathan et al. 2010). Since the ban on lead gasoline in 1996, most of the lead exposure is due to inhalation or ingestion of lead dust and soil particles near/in homes due to lead paint (Saminathan et al. 2010)
Lead-based paint was the main source of home paint in the 19th century until it was banned in 1978. Weathering, chipping, sanding, renovation, and peeling on the interior or exterior of houses painted pre-1978 increases lead dust and lead in the soils. Humans can be exposed to lead dust and soil through inhalation and ingestion. Children are the greatest at risk, as crawling around, playing outside, and putting their hands in their mouths can result in increased exposure (Saminathan et al. 2010).
Saminathan, S., D. Sarkar, S. Andra, and R. Datta. 2010. Lead Fractionation and Bioaccessibility in Contaminated Soils with Variable Chemical Properties. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability. 215-225