Baltimore Lead Hazards

After recognizing the danger posed by lead contamination, Congress outlawed leaded gasoline in 1972, lead-based house paint in 1978, and lead drinking water pipes and solder in 1986. However, lead hazards created before these dates continue to pose a threat until remediated or replaced.

Paint

Baltimore is an old city, and deteriorating household paint remains a prevalent source of lead contamination. According to Maryland's 2014 Blood Lead Surveillance Annual Report, at least 60% of Baltimore children under three years with blood lead levels >10 μg/dL were found to be living in homes constructed before 1950.

SOURCE: EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Lead

In properties built before 1978, lead-based paint remains a hazard even if it is painted over with a fresh coat of lead-free paint: once the newer coat begins to chip, it carries fragments of the underlying, lead-based paint to the floor. Those fragments can then combine with dust and be ingested or inhaled by children. Ultimately, the only way to control lead-based paint hazards is to have a trained specialist remove the toxic layers of paint entirely.

Water

Drinking water moving through lead pipes, lead solder, and leaded brass fixtures can become contaminated and a source of lead exposure. Compared to lead-based paint, drinking water is a relatively minor source of exposure for most Baltimore residents. However, 4% of water samples collected by Baltimore City in 2015 contained lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), and bottled water has become a fixture at many Baltimore public schools after detection of elevated lead levels in school water fountains.

Soil

In older cities like Baltimore, years of flaking exterior paint, leaded gasoline, and emissions from industrial operations have contributed to a buildup of lead in soil. According to one soil study cited by the city, 30% of Baltimore homes sampled had an average yard soil lead level of 400 ppm, while 50 percent of Baltimore homes sampled had at least one area of the yard with soil lead levels in excess of 400 ppm.

If your child was lead-poisoned, it is crucial to document their exposure through blood testing and property inspection. To speak with one of our experienced lead poisoning attorneys, please call 1-800-475-2881 or submit an email inquiry through this page.