Lead - Simple Steps for Reducing Your Exposure to Lead

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Transcript - Lead - Simple Steps for Reducing Your Exposure to Lead

(Animation begins with Hazardcheck symbol.)

Voiceover: "Lead is a very common metal that has many uses."
(Zoom in on the house as it transforms into a pipe. The letters "Pb" appear on the pipe.)

Voiceover: "But it is also toxic to people, if it enters into your bloodstream."
(The lead pipe animates as scene cuts to a human silhouette. The animated lead begins to move through the person's bloodstream. They frown.)

Voiceover: "In the past, lead was often used for water pipes and in paints and fuel."
(Screen changes to images of pipe, paint brush, gas nozzle.)

Voiceover: "Today, Canada has strict safety regulations to protect consumers from lead exposure. That's because exposure to even low levels of lead can cause harmful effects on children's health and development. Pregnant women must also be careful, as lead can pass through the placenta."
(Screen fades to black with "Pb" in white letters, now covered by iconic "no" symbol. Transition to child and pregnant woman standing together.)

Voiceover: "How can you be exposed to lead in your home?"
(Woman and child fade, replaced by question mark.)

Voiceover: "Older homes built before 1960 may have layers of lead paint beneath the newer ones."
(Transition back to house graphic with "1960" on it. House transitions to white wood moulding. Paint peels away showing dark brown basecoat.)

Voiceover: "Homes built before 1975 may have lead pipes, fittings or solder, which can leach lead into your drinking water."
(Cut back to house graphic now with "1975" date on it. House fades, replaced by a lead service pipe feeding from the water main into a water meter.)

Voiceover: "And older toys and other household items -- including vinyl mini-blinds -- may have unsafe levels of lead."
(Cut to toy car being moved by a child's hand. Cut to vertical blinds.)

Voiceover: "But there are many simple things you can do to protect yourself and your family."
(Blinds open to reveal happy family.)

Voiceover: "Be careful when sanding painted surfaces in an older home."
(Cut to show hand sanding paint.)

Voiceover: "Airborne lead paint dust can be breathed in, and will contaminate everything it touches."
(Dust billows. Through the dust, a silhouette of a person appears who seems to be struggling to breathe.)

Voiceover: "If you see old paint exposed, you can have it tested for lead. You can also just paint over it, as long as it isn't peeling or chipping."
(Paintbrush paints over dark spot.)

Voiceover: "In the kitchen or bathroom, you can have your tap water tested for lead."
(Transition to kitchen faucet running.)

Voiceover: "Never use hot tap water to make hot drinks or to speed up boiling for cooking. If you have a lead problem in your water, hot water is likely to contain more of it."
(Steaming cup -- label says "Pb".)

Voiceover: "Do not let children play with older toys, which may not meet current safety standards. Check for toy and consumer product recalls at HealthyCanadians.gc.ca."
(Toy train moves across screen and then fades to computer screen with URL typed into address bar and home page set to HealthyCanadians.gc.ca.)

Voiceover: "For more information about lead and other environmental health hazards in the home visit HealthyCanadians.gc.ca/Hazardcheck or call."
(The Hazardcheck wordmark appears on screen with the following text:

Hazardcheck
HealthyCanadians.gc.ca/Hazardcheck
1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY 1-800-926-9105)

Voiceover: "A message from the Government of Canada."
(Transition to Canada Wordmark)