Lead in the yard

Sources of lead Paint.
The soil around a house, garage, fence, outbuilding or former building site could be highly contaminated by deteriorated lead paint. If the home has been sandblasted or pressure washed, the contamination could extend further out.

Lead-based insecticides.
Industrial air pollution. 

Automotive exhaust.

Gasoline no longer contains lead, but soil along roadways and driveways could have been contaminated from automotive exhaust when leaded gasoline was used.

If a shade-tree mechanic repaired cars in your yard, the area where he worked could be highly contaminated.

If your yard is contaminated
The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to cover bare dirt. Exposed soil is a greater hazard than grassy or covered soil. And it's more serious if it's in an area where children play. For example, the federal standard for bare soil where children play is 400 parts lead per million soil, compared to 1,200 parts per million if children don't play there. Fence off the soil until you can get it covered.

To cover soil:
Mix in compost to dilute the lead concentration in soil. Lay down fresh sod or seed yard. Cover with six inches of lead- and arsenic-free wood chips, mulch, new soil or sand. Lay newspaper, black plastic or black cloth under the mulch. Pave over bare areas. Or install a deck and then block off the area underneath, perhaps with latticework. Plant bushes around your home to keep pets and children away from the foundation. Mulch under shrubs. Pets can bring lead dust indoors too, so inspect their play area for bare spots.

What about gardening?
Test soil before gardening next to a building built before 1978 or along a roadway or driveway. Depending upon the level of contamination, you may need to restrict the type of produce grown or bring in fresh soil to do raised-bed gardening. Although some produce can absorb lead from the soil, the bigger hazard is microscopic amounts of lead clinging to the exterior of the plant and lead exposure from working in contaminated soil. Discard outer leaves of leafy plants. Thoroughly wash all vegetables with soapy water or a 1 percent vinegar solution (1 to 2 ounces of vinegar to 1 gallon of water). To reduce the amount of lead plants absorb, maintain soil pH above 6.5, keep phosphorus levels high and add organic matter.

What can I do?
Have your child tested. If your child is at risk, have him tested annually through age 6.   Locate any lead risks in your home or day-care and educate yourself about lead. Practice aggressive, safe housekeeping and yard maintenance. Feed your child a balanced diet, stimulate his intellectual development.