Lead Testing Information

Children.

Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children are also more susceptible to lead exposure from frequent hand to mouth contact with objects that may contain lead or lead dust. Children can also be exposed to lead in the same ways as adults.

Adults, Especially Pregnant Women.

Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from using dishes, pottery, or lead crystal glassware containing lead. They may also breathe lead dust by spending time in areas where lead based paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, and casting fishing sinkers or bullets can increase exposure as can following certain folk remedies that contain lead.

Consult with your health care provider to conduct a lead exposure screening and blood lead testing if necessary.

• Keep your home clean and dust-free by regularly wet-mopping floors
• Clean friction areas such as windows and drawers with a wet sponge or rag to remove paint chips or dust
• Use door mats to wipe shoes or remove shoes when entering your building and home
• Use vacuums equipped with HEPA filters and disposable bags
• Teach children to wipe or remove their shoes prior to entering home and wash hands after playing outdoors
• Inspect all painted surfaces and inform DPW-Customer Service of peeling paint or wood deterioration
• Promptly report water damage to DPW-Customer Service usarmy.wiesbaden.id-europe.list.dpw-customer-rep@mail.mil or 0611-143-548-4357 (HELP)
• Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
• Use only lead free containers/cookware/tableware to store/cook food or drinks
• Ensure that your family members eat well-balanced meals. Children with healthy diets absorb less lead.
• To immediately improve water quality and reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water, you can:
• Use only cold water to prepare food, drinks and baby formula
• Flush water outlets briefly until cold prior to use for drinking or food/formula preparation
• Use kitchen cold water tap as primary source of drinking water as it is used more frequently
• Clean or replace faucet screens (aerators) every several months to remove mineral deposits

• Army Family Housing continually renovates and maintains housing units eliminating or encapsulating lead.
• Environmental reviews require renovation, repair and painting projects to control dust.
• Playground equipment and synthetic turfs certified lead free or tested lead safe.
• Prior Garrison wide Lead Based Paint surveys identified and addressed lead hazards.
• LBP Survey contract verifying housing and child occupied areas are a lead safe environment in FY19.
• LBP Inspector and Risk Assessor Training provided to key personnel.
• Drinking water in CDC, schools and other child occupied facilities tested and confirmed safe in FY16; retesting of drinking water in child occupied facilities planned again in FY21.
• Army wide five year campaign to test all Army Family Housing units primary drinking water sources for lead:
  • About 10% of kitchen faucets are reported at or above the EPA’s 15 part per billion action limit for lead and are promptly serviced or replaced to reduce lead levels.
  • Greater than 95% of all reported exceedances were for first draw water samples. That is the first ½ pint of water taken directly from the tap after an hour eight hour stagnation period.
  • To date, over 60% of USAG Wiesbaden housing units' drinking water has been tested for lead with a plan to meet the Army goal of 100% in FY20.

The Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division will provide testing results if your unit has been tested. Call (0611) 143-548-4092/4093 for more information.