[Need Help] today for memorial day my family was doing a bbq, and I played some basketball. The ball went right into a door with chipping paint. I do not know for sure if it was lead paint but paint would have to be there for a long time to chip like that. Later I saw my little sister trying to play with it but I urged her not to since shes 7. but behind my back she picked it up and was playing with my dad. I tried to tell my parents what happened but they brushed it off like it's nothing. After she ate something without washing her hands, and she seemed unfocused and irritated for no reason, which are common symptoms of lead poisoning. I'm 13 too, and I touched the ball after because my dad told me to stop acting like a girl and play some basketball. but I took a shower after and washed my hands good after since a good amount of dust went on my clothes. I'm really worried about my future and hers.

If it was lead paint that would have been such a small exposure to it that there couldn’t possibly be any effects. Lead paint also has not been used for a very long time so if it’s been painted anytime in the past dozen or so years there’s no need to worry.

Im a chemist that literally works with machines that can test how much lead is im stuff. So I could answer all your questions about lead. But I dont want to reassure you that there probably is no lead and even if there was its so little it doesnt matter. It sounds like you have contamination fears about chemicals in the environment. Is it just lead? Either way the fact you posting this question on ocd app suggests this is more ocd concern then a concern that requires this much concern. Are you being treated for ocd?

Oh well in that case I think you might want to get some help on this issue. Are you having other concerns about contamination?

Did you ask about lead paint a week or so ago?

Yeah I realised that was irrational but I'm not sure about this.

No I didn't even tell my parents yet.

I definitely understand your thoughts. I have contamination OCD. My therapist, in situations like this, advise me me to talk to a credible expert, so I can stop the research spiral. I love that you accidentally found one here. For me, when I worry about a contaminant that may have involved ingestion, I call poison control. I call once, I get an answer, and then I sit with the OCD monster until it goes away.

I fear lead to and we found a house that we would love to buy but it is located a half mile from a huge battery recycling plant with a lead smelter. It is known as an environmentally friendly plant with emissions in the .03 ug/m3 3 month average ambient lead rate but I fear that it is unsafe to live next to it with my four kids