Understanding Your Lead Test Results

After submitting a sample to our lab for lead testing, you may have questions about what your results actually mean. This guide will help you interpret your report based on the type of sample you submitted.

Before getting into specific materials, it’s important to understand how lead becomes a health concern.

How Lead Exposure Actually Happens

A common misconception is that any presence of lead is immediately dangerous. In reality, lead is primarily harmful when it is ingested or inhaled.

This is why risk is much higher in situations where:

Children or pets may accidentally eat or lick contaminated items
Renovation or disturbance creates dust that can be breathed in

It’s also important to understand that there is technically no safe level of lead exposure. Even so, regulatory limits exist to help guide practical decisions. In most cases, the risk depends heavily on context.

For example:

A decorative item that is never touched or mouthed is lower risk
An item that can chip, create dust, or be handled frequently is higher risk

Paint

Paint samples are typically submitted as chips or dust. We classify lead in paint into three categories:

Lead- Free Paint

“Lead-free” does not mean completely free of lead. It means the level is below 90 parts per million (ppm).

At this level:

Lead was not intentionally added
Trace amounts may exist from manufacturing
It is generally considered low risk in normal use

Lead Containing Paint

Lead-containing paint tests between 90 ppm and 4,999 ppm.

Key facts:

Residential use has been banned since 1978
Still found in older buildings and some industrial applications
The main risk comes from dust or peeling chips being inhaled or ingested

This level requires caution, especially during renovation or in homes with children.

Lead-Based Paint

Lead-based paint is defined as 5,000 ppm or higher.

This is the highest-risk category:

Significant exposure risk if disturbed
Dust inhalation is the primary danger
Requires strict safety precautions during removal or renovation

Soil

Lead in your soil can also be a hazard, depending entirely on how that soil is being used. Because lead is a naturally occurring element, do not be alarmed by trace levels in your yard.

The primary concern is for children who play in the dirt. Children frequently get soil on their hands and then put their hands in their mouths, or eat food without washing up, accidentally consuming the soil.

The other major concern is home gardening. Soil can get stuck to the outer skin of vegetables, or the plant can absorb the lead directly through its roots.

General guidance based on lead levels:

0–100 ppm: Safe for all uses, including gardening and play areas
200–400 ppm: Not recommended for children’s play areas or root crops; safer for fruits, legumes, and leafy greens
400–1,000 ppm: Only suitable for fruits and legumes; leafy greens are not recommended due to difficulty cleaning
Over 1,000 ppm: Not safe for traditional gardening; use raised beds with clean soil

Food and Baby Formula

When it comes to food, the standard is simple: there should be no added lead at any level.

Some crops, especially root vegetables and spices, can absorb trace amounts of lead naturally from soil. However, any elevated level in a tested food product is a concern and should not be consumed.

Infant and Baby Foods

There is no single universal federal limit that applies to all infant formulas, but the FDA enforces strict thresholds for contaminants in baby foods, typically in the range of 10–20 parts per billion.

In practice:

Many reputable brands show no detectable lead at all
The goal should always be the lowest possible exposure

Conclusion

We hope this helps you better understand your lab results and what they mean in real-world terms.

If you’re unsure how to interpret your specific report or what steps to take next, our team is here to help. You can reach out anytime through our website or contact our support team directly.

Thank you for choosing Safe Home Test Kits to help protect your home and your family.

Need to purchase Lead Solids Testing? We have two options:

Lead in Solids Test Kit (5-Pack)– This test kit includes 5 sample collection bags and is only for in-lab testing

Lead Combo Test Kit: Includes 10 DIY Lead Test Swabs and 1 optional In-Lab Test Kit