Is the lead in old houses still a danger to your kids' brain?

What's actually in it

Lead-based paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978, but it's still under newer paint in millions of older houses. Friction surfaces (windows, doors, floors) grind it into lead dust. The dust spreads through the house and ends up on toys, hands, and food.

Babies and toddlers crawl, mouth, and eat off floors. They get the biggest dose.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Sci Total Environ modeled the link between housing age, demographics, and child blood lead levels in U.S. communities. Pre-1940 housing was the strongest predictor of higher kid blood lead, especially in lower-income neighborhoods. Renovation activity in old homes was a top trigger for spikes.

A separate 2026 review in Int J Environ Health Res connected even small chronic lead exposure to autism-spectrum-related brain changes.

If your home was built before 1978, test for lead paint before any sanding, scraping, or remodeling. Wet-mop floors, vacuum with HEPA, and wash kid hands often. Get blood lead screening at well-child visits. Replace pre-1986 brass faucets, which often contain lead.