Description

For sample adults or sample persons age 18+ whose homes were built before 1950, or who didn't know whether their homes were built before 1950 (HOME1950), LEADPAINT indicates whether their housepaint had ever been tested for lead content.

These questions were part of an inquiry into environmental health. In 1991, the questions were in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention supplement; in 1993, in the Year 2000 Objectives supplement; in 1998, in the Sample Adult Prevention Supplement; and in 2002, in the Sample Adult questionnaire. In 1993, users should employ the SUPP2WT weight with HOME1950 and LEADPAINT, to match the sampling scheme of the 1993 Y2K supplement. In all other years, users should employ SAMPWT with these variables.

Increasing testing for lead content in housepaint for homes built before 1950 was a public health goal incorporated into the Healthy People 2000 and 2010 goals. Concern about lead paint in older homes derives from the fact that paint chips and dust may be ingested by, and pose a serious health hazard to, young children. See the variable description for HOME1950 for more information.

Comparability

Along with universe changes, the question wording for LEADPAINT changes over time.

In 1991 and 1993, interviewers asked, "Has paint from this home ever been analyzed for lead content?" The survey form also directed interviewers to "read if necessary" the following text: "This can be done by sending paint chips to a laboratory for testing, having a measurement by an x-ray fluorescence or XRF machine or having a chemical spot test on the wall."

In 1998 and 2002, interviewers repeated the same basic question, but the survey form no longer contained supplemental text to be read "if necessary," describing how such testing could be done.

Universe

Availability

• 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002

Weights

• 1991 : PERWEIGHT
• 1998, 2002 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 1993 : SUPP2WT