If so, it is almost certain that your home contains lead and it may be poisoning you or your child. Lead poisoning in Washington, D.C. remains one of the most dangerous environmental threats to children, despite the fact that it is completely preventable.  Census data from 2005 estimate that 91% of housing in the District of Columbia was built prior to 1980.  The use of lead in paint was banned in 1978 which suggests that many of these homes may contain lead-based paint and/or lead dust hazards.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as of 2005 about 47, 719 children in the United States had an elevated blood lead level (≥ 10 µg/dL).

Number of Housing Structures Built in DC by Decade