Heres how to detect and deal with lead that might be in or around your home.

Your water utility sends you a report every year, which they call a Consumer Confidence Report.

Its legally required to include lead levels, if any lead was found.

The CDC has aguide to understanding the report here.

Many (but not all) will also provide free lead testing for your home if you request it.

TheEnvironmental Protection Agency has a list of certified labs here.

Water filters can help, although they may not be a complete solution.

Certified filters can remove 96% of lead at levels of 150 parts per billion or less.

Not every filter will do the job: Brita filtersdo not claim to be able to filter out lead.

There is a pitcher filter that does, though; its made byZeroWaterand is sold at Target and Walgreens.

Dont think that lead is gone, even though the pumps today are all dispensing unleaded.

Lead dust from paint can also make its way into soil.

How much should you worry?

Thats a tough question to answer.

Plants grown in leaddont tend to pick up lead from their soil.

Their dirty shoes can also track that dirt inside.

Soil testing is a little trickier than testing for lead in water or paint.

Consumer test kitsarent very good at detecting lead in soil, and expensive lab-based tests have their pitfalls too.

Another option would be growing these veggies in a raised bed filled with soil youve purchased from elsewhere.

Even indoors, the floor can be contaminated by dirt thats been tracked in on shoes.

Remember that your yard isnt the only place you may encounter lead dust.

The only downside was, well, it was toxic.

If you have lead paint on your walls, you dont necessarily need to freak out.

Better yet,use an encapsulant, which is a product thats actually designed to seal in lead.

You face a bigger problem when you want to do renovations.

Even something as simple as replacing a window can be a headache.

The Environmental Protection Agency hasinstructions here for do-it-yourselfers, and alisting of certified renovators.

Lead poisoning symptoms in adults can include fatigue and nausea, but also lead to nervous system problems likeneuropathies.

If youre pregnant or have kids, though, thats when you really have to be concerned.

High levels of lead can cause miscarriages or stillbirth, and can affect the brain of a developing fetus.

TheAmerican Academy of Pediatricsrecommends blood tests for leadonly if a child is likely to have high lead levels.

Hopefully it doesnt come to that.