{"id":307,"date":"2020-04-16T10:43:24","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T14:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/leadsafe\/?page_id=307"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:49:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:49:21","slug":"information-for-adults","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/leadsafe\/information-for-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Information for Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-307\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-307-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-307-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-307-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-307\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2020\/04\/adult-lead-exposure.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2020\/04\/adult-lead-exposure.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2020\/04\/adult-lead-exposure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2020\/04\/adult-lead-exposure-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2020\/04\/adult-lead-exposure-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" title=\"adult lead exposure\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-307-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-307-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><span style=\"background: white;\">Many hobbies and industries can expose adults to lead.\u00a0 If precautions are not taken, this can lead to dangerous levels of lead exposure for the adult. It can also put the adult's family at risk through \"take-home lead\". Take-home lead is lead dust that an adult unknowingly carries home on their clothes, shoes, skin, hair, or personal belongings. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-307-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-307-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-307-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2><b>Health Effects in Adults<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Lead exposure is dangerous for adults as well as young children, and there are many sources for exposure in the workplace or through different hobbies.\u00a0 Lead can be<strong> inhaled<\/strong> (breathed in) through fumes and dust, <strong>ingested<\/strong> (eaten) if dust settles on your hands or other objects, or <strong>absorbed<\/strong> through the skin.\u00a0 You can be exposed to lead dust in the air of buildings where certain activities take place, so even if you did not work directly with a lead-containing material there is still of risk of lead exposure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Symptoms of adult lead poisoning include<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High blood pressure.<\/li>\n<li>Joint and muscle pain.<\/li>\n<li>Difficulties with memory or concentration.<\/li>\n<li>Headache.<\/li>\n<li>Abdominal pain.<\/li>\n<li>Mood disorders.<\/li>\n<li>Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm.<\/li>\n<li>Miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth in pregnant people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may experience lead poisoning from a single, high-dose (acute) exposure to lead or many smaller amounts over time (chronic) exposure.\u00a0 Either can cause negative health effects.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Lead at Work<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Industries where you can be exposed to lead include: <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Building renovation and painting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mining.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smelting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Battery recycling.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Refinishing old furniture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Auto body work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shooting ranges.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> provides more information about workplace lead exposure on their\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/lead\/about\/index.html\">website<\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lead in Hobbies<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hobbies where you can be exposed to lead include: <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hunting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shooting at\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/04\/Lead-and-Firing-Ranges-fact-sheet.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">indoor firing ranges<\/span>.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fishing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stained glass.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Making pottery.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stock cars. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lead can be found in shot, fishing sinkers and jigs, came and solder used in making stained glass, dyes and glazes used in pottery, and\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/lead-prevention\/prevention\/jobs-hobbies-activities.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nceh\/lead\/prevention\/sources\/jobs-hobbies-activities.htm\">many other items<\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Exposure Prevention<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The good news is that simple prevention measures can keep you and your family safe from sources of lead at work and from sources outside the home:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Never put leaded materials in your mouth.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wear recommended PPE (personal protective equipment) and work in a well-ventilated area.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Avoid handling food, smoking, or touching your face while working with lead materials.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wash your hands before eating, drinking, or smoking when working with lead materials.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shower and change clothes before entering your vehicle or your home.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Take off your work shoes outside the home. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wash your work clothes separately from your family\u2019s clothes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Keep all work and hobby materials away from living areas.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How Do I Know if I Have Been Exposed to Lead? <\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The only sure way to know if you have been exposed to lead is with a blood lead test. If you think you may have been exposed to lead at work or through a hobby, ask a health care provider for a blood lead test. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Make sure everyone in your household tells their health care provider that they live with someone whose job or hobby might expose them to lead. This is especially important for anyone in the household who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant and for young children.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Learn more:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-307-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-88fe963d2651-307\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-left\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/lead\/about\/index.html\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-far\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf25a;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"color: #ffffff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\tCDC NIOSH | About Lead in the Workplace\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-307-1-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-88fe963d2651-307\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-left\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/lead-prevention\/prevention\/jobs-hobbies-activities.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nceh\/lead\/prevention\/sources\/jobs-hobbies-activities.htm\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-far\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf25a;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"color: #ffffff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\tCDC | About Lead in Jobs, Hobbies, or Other Activities\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many hobbies and industries can expose adults to lead.\u00a0 If precautions are not taken, this can lead to dangerous levels of lead exposure for the adult. It can also put the adult&#8217;s family at risk through &#8220;take-home lead&#8221;. Take-home lead is lead dust that an adult unknowingly carries home on their clothes, shoes, skin, hair, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Information for Adults - Lead Safe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/leadsafe\/information-for-adults\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Information for Adults - Lead Safe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many hobbies and industries can expose adults to lead.\u00a0 If precautions are not taken, this can lead to dangerous levels of lead exposure for the adult. 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