# Lead test kits?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 23, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671 "2007-08-23T18:23:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jbarro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@jbarro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbarro)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671/1 "2007-08-23T18:23:20Z")

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With all of the news surrounding toys made in China, I’m basically assuming there are other toys/products in our home containing lead that just haven’t been recalled yet. I’ve read (in Today’s Parent magazine, which loves to promote fear mongering) that you can buy lead test kits in hardware stores, but that they’re not always accurate. Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with these kits? How do they work? Do they have accuracy problems? Should I look into buying one or am I just a completely paranoid first time parent?

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671/2 "2007-08-23T18:44:56Z")

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My understanding is that they’re not accurate if the lead containing part has been topcoated with non lead containing stuff. So if you have, say, a piece of wood with red lead paint and then a clearcoat on top, the lead smudge stick won’t work. As long as the item remains intact, there’s no safety concern either, but little kids are known to gnaw on toys, meaning they could bite through the clearcoat and into the lead paint underneath.

Whether or not you think it’s enough of a risk is really only something you can determine.

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**Author:** ![Shryn\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Shryn\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shryn_King)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671/3 "2007-08-23T18:45:03Z")

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jbarro, [here is an article](http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadtest.pdf) that might be helpful. I would have to say that the toys wouldn’t concern me as much as the house itself and the mini-blinds.

Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671/4 "2007-08-23T18:47:41Z")

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As is the case with many things in life, you get what you pay for. A $5 kit is going to give you a rough indicator if lead is present. It’s more of a yes/no test, and in no way can be considered a quantitative analysis. Those kits are also designed to be used on painted surfaces of 1978 and older “target” dwellings, not the Hello Kitty charm bracelet you just got at the dollar store. Yes, you’re being fueled by first time parental paranoia-it passes with time, thankfully. 🙂

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**Author:** ![jbarro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@jbarro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbarro)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-test-kits/416671/5 "2007-08-24T01:47:53Z")

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Thanks so much for the information. I guess I really should try to relax a bit, or alternately, start stressing out about the pre-1978 home we live in :eek: At least we don’t have any mini-blinds.