Lead FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should residents in the City of Roanoke be concerned about lead?

Communities affected by lead are unaware of the potential hazard. Lead poisoning is a serious threat to the health of America’s children. Lead was a common ingredient in household paint until it was banned in 1978. Unfortunately, 86.7% of the houses (39,239 houses) in Roanoke were built before the ban on lead paint; meaning that the majority of houses in the City of Roanoke most likely contain some lead paint. Roanoke has the 2nd highest percentage of elevated blood lead level (EBLL) cases in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Only Richmond claimed higher percentages of EBLL cases. Through educational efforts, we hope to increase every resident's knowledge and awareness of the dangers associated with lead poisoning. Our goal is to make every home in The City of Roanoke Lead Safe, so that all children have the chance to enjoy healthy and productive lives.

Here is the most recent data for the numbers of lead-poisoned children in Roanoke as reported by the Virginia Department of Health:

58 in 2002
39 in 2003
42 in 2004
28 in 2005
16 in 2006

Source: Virginia Department of Health, http://www.vahealth.org/leadsafe/data.htm

What is lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning is a serious and preventable illness caused by swallowing or breathing lead. People are exposed to lead by breathing air, drinking water, eating food, and swallowing or touching dust and/or dirt that contains lead. The most common source of lead poisoning is lead-based paint and paint dust. Older homes may contain lead-based paint on inside and outside surfaces. Lead dust is the biggest threat of lead paint. It is often difficult to see and is created when doors, windows, or other painted surfaces rub against each other. When lead-based paint chips, peel or flake, it can become a lead hazard. It can also turn to lead dust or paint chips that can contaminate the soil around the house.

The lead in the paint can turn to lead dust, which may enter the body through inhalation (breathing in) or hand-to-mouth contact. Lead dust is the biggest threat of lead paint and is created when doors, windows or other painted surfaces rub against each other and is often difficult to see.

What are some common sources of lead?

Lead can come from many sources, but is hard to detect because you cannot see, taste or smell lead. Some of the most common source of lead are:

Soil contaminated with lead paint chips
Food grown in lead-contaminated soil
Certain home hobbies and jobs in which one would come into contact with or use lead-based products (stained glass, target practice)
Water that has passed through lead lined pipes
Pottery that has been improperly glazed
Imported window blinds and imported children’s toy jewelry
Car batteries
Bullets
Artist paint
Folk medicine
Curtain weights
Stained glass
Antique pewter
Leaded crystal
Fishing sinkers

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

Symptoms of lead poisoning vary and can include any combination of the following:

Headaches
Stomach aches
Tiredness (loss of energy) or hyperactivity
Constipation
Poor appetite
Nausea and/or vomiting
Dizziness
Muscle and joint weakness or pain
Reduced attention span
Metallic taste in mouth
Irritability or crankiness
Loss of weight
Loss of interest in playing

Parents often don’t notice these signs because they usually go away quickly or look like other illnesses such as the flu. Many times there are NO SIGNS of lead poisoning. Only through testing can we tell for sure if a child has an elevated blood lead level (EBLL).