Lead Testing Kits

What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning  is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. It interferes with the development of the nervous system and is therefore particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behavior disorders.

Symptoms include:

  • abdominal pain
  • confusion
  • headache
  • anemia
  • irritability
  • and in severe cases seizures, coma, and death.

Routes of exposure to lead include contaminated air, water, soil, food, and consumer products. Occupational exposure is a common cause of lead poisoning in adults. According to estimates made by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 3 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to lead in the workplace. One of the largest threats to children is lead paint that exists in many homes, especially older ones; thus children in older housing with chipping paint are at greater risk. Prevention of lead exposure can range from individual efforts (e.g. removing lead-containing items such as piping or blinds from the home) to nationwide policies.

Mostly all home health hazards are preventable. But only if you know that a problem exists. That’s why PRO–LAB offers state-of–the–art home safety lead detection kits available at your local retail stores.

  • Lead In Paint & Dust Test Kit

    $ 49.95
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Why Should I Worry ?

Lead-based paint is a notorious culprit. Many homes/apartments built before 1960 have heavily leaded paint and homes/apartments built prior to 1978 may also contain paint with dangerously high levels of lead. Lead based paint can be on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, furniture (cribs), children’s toys and even floors. As it peels, paint chips are loosened and can be ingested by children. Another contamination source from lead is lead dust particles. Painted surface friction points, such as window frames and sills, create paint dust. Household renovation activities can also create high levels of paint dust. When a lead–based paint surface is broken, sanded or scraped, it breaks into tiny, sometimes invisible, pieces that children can swallow or inhale.

Ceramic dishes and mugs are another area of concern. Some ceramic dishware, especially those imported from foreign countries, may contain lead contaminated glaze. The lead can leach into food or liquids, particularly acidic foods. Foods stored or cooked in these containers are at higher risk of contamination.

Reduce the Risk of Contamination

The initial step in preventing lead poisoning is determining whether or not your house and household items contain lead. All suspected surfaces and dishware should be tested. Home test kits, such as PRO-LAB’s Professional Lead Surface Test Kit and Professional Test Kit for Paint & Dust provide a simple, accurate and easy first line of defense against lead contamination. Professional Lead Surface Test Kit and Professional Test Kit for Paint & Dust is the only safe, non-toxic lead test kit available. All surfaces including walls, windows, ceilings, floors and ceramics should be tested.

Good housecleaning is another important element. Keep all of your children’s play areas as dust–free as possible. Frequently wash floors and windows with phosphate–rich cleansers, such as automatic dish washing detergents. Keep all toys clean by washing them often.

If you discover the presence of lead–based paint in your house, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Contact your local health department and seek help from a professional who has special training in lead paint removal or encapsulation

The PRO-LAB® Lead Test Kit for Paint & Dust is an EPA approved laboratory test that will accurately and reliably test your paint sample and dust sample for lead contamination to 1 ppm (part per million) content providing a professional lab report within one week of our receipt of your test samples.

  • Lead In Water Test Kit

    $ 49.95
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Lead-contaminated water from lead pipes and fixtures contributes to lead poisoning in over 40,000,000 homes. Every time you drink from the faucet, cook with tap water, or brush your teeth, you may be at risk.PRO-LAB® Lead in Water Test Kit offers you:

  • Simple and reliable method to test for lead
  • Get instant results.

Why Should I Worry ?

Lead contamination from tap water occurs because of the presence of lead-containing materials in the plumbing system. Lead contaminated tap water may pose a serious health threat. According to the U.S. EPA approximately 20% of public water systems, serving 32 million people, were found to have lead levels exceeding the EPA’s safety standard of 15 ppb (parts per billion).

According to the EPA, the ultimate responsibility for safe drinking water rests with the end user. The water you drink may contain lead, which can cause adverse health effects, even at short–term exposure. Young children and pregnant women are at the greatest risk.

Your home is at high risk of lead contaminated water if it has:

  1. lead pipes and/or lead connectors from the water main
  2. copper pipes with lead solder
  3. soft water (a water softener can contribute to the corrosiveness of the water and if used, should not be connected to pipes leading to drinking water taps)
  4. water remaining in pipes that contact lead for several hours (the longer water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain).

The age of your home is a major contributing factor. Older homes with plumbing installed prior to 1930, are likely to have lead pipes. In addition, plumbing with copper pipes installed before 1988, may contain lead solder. Today, lead pipes and materials are prohibited from being used in plumbing that leads to drinking water taps.

There are several “rules of thumb” that should be used in protecting your family from lead contaminated tap water.

  1. Flush your pipes before use. Prior to using water for cooking or drinking, run the tap water until it becomes as cold as it will get. Save the flushing water for cleaning, watering plants, washing dishes.
  2. Use only cold water for drinking & cooking — hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.
  3. Inspect your plumbing system to detect lead. Lead pipes and solder are dull gray, when scratched they will look shiny.
  4. Test your water with a lead detection product, such asThe PRO-LAB®’s Lead in Water Test Kit, that utilizes recognized licensed, certified or accredited laboratories. If your lead test comes back positive, the best way to handle the problem is to determine the source and remove it.
  • Lead Surface Test Kit

    $ 9.95
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ThePRO-LAB® Lead  on Surface Test Kit  is a simple and reliable method to test for lead and get instant results. Ingesting lead paint and breathing in lead dust is the #1 contributor to lead poisoning, which causes brain damage and affects over 200,000 children each year !

  • Offers the option of testing either suspect of lead paint or lead dust to EPA approved lab methods.
  • Meets EPA Title X requirements for real estate transactions.
  • Simple to use test utilizes atomic absorption spectrometer via graphite furnace.
  • Offers EPA Profeciency results within 2 weeks.
  • Lab fee and pre-paid postage envelope included.
  • Contains 6 instant test strips to make sure you and your family are safe

Why Should I Worry ?

Lead poisoning causes brain damage to children from birth to 8 years old. Test your home or office for lead. The PRO-LAB® Lead on Surface Test Kit contains 6 instant test strips to make sure you and your family are safe. Perform the test on:

  • Children’s Toys
  • Dinnerware
  • Mini Blinds
  • Ceramics & Antiques
  • Soil
  • Plumbing Pipes & Fixtures
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