ACT
ON
THE
ICK
84%
of lead aprons tested for Staph A
84%
of lead aprons tested for Ringworm
78%
report wearing soiled lead
66%
of garments touch a patient 1-10x a shift
Think About Ew
The Biohazard You Wear Every Day
You wear lead every day. Sometimes for hours. Often after someone else has. You sweat in it. You wear it into sterile environments. And more than likely, it’s never been professionally cleaned.
Research from Wayne State University found that 84% of hospital lead aprons tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus and ringworm. 12% tested positive for MRSA. These pathogens aren’t just gross, they’re dangerous.
It’s putting you and your patients at risk.

Watch What You’re Really Wearing
The Clean Those Leads Film Series
The six short films below expose the contamination risks of lead aprons in real-world healthcare settings. Backed by research and frontline voices, they make one thing clear: It’s time to clean those leads.
A Day in the Life of a Lead
Following a lead apron across a single day in the hospital, this film shows what happens when protective gear is shared between clinicians. Sweat, spills, and everyday exposure tell a bigger story about what builds up, and what’s often overlooked.
Hidden Dangers
In this interview, Dr. Wava Truscott, PhD, explains the limitations of disinfectant wipes when it comes to lead apron hygiene. By unpacking biofilms and real-world cleaning practices, she makes the case for why wipes can’t be the only solution.
Lead vs Life
In Lead vs. Life, Justin McKay traces the path of a lead apron through the hospital, testing the surfaces it touches and then testing the apron itself. What the data reveals challenges assumptions about cleanliness and exposure.
Apron Roulette
Apron Roulette turns lead apron hygiene into a game of chance, showing how clinicians unknowingly expose themselves to contamination by using shared, uncleaned aprons. The reveal comes at the end of the day, when swab results show exactly what they were wearing.
Bill’s Story
Bill’s Story follows one patient’s experience after contracting MRSA during surgery, leading to multiple additional surgeries, years of therapy, and lifelong antibiotic treatment. Through his journey, Bill raises critical questions about lead apron cleanliness and its role in hospital-acquired infections.
The Clean Effect
The Clean Effect highlights the real impact of properly cleaned lead aprons, told directly through the voices of clinicians. Their experiences show how cleanliness changes confidence, safety, and day-to-day care.
“It’s dirty. It has sweat stains. It gets mistreated. “
Most of us have just accepted it—shared lead is part of the job. But once you really look at what’s on these garments, you start asking questions. How clean is it? Who wore it last? How safe is it for me, or for my patients?
The truth is, most lead garments are never truly deep cleaned. And that needs to change.
READY TO CLEAN THOSE LEADS?
Learn more about the Clean Those Leads campaign
Watch the Film Series
If you’ve ever wondered how clean your lead really is, these videos are for you. We brought together healthcare workers, contamination data, and a few surprises to uncover the truth.
Campaign Resources
Swab kits, action packs, expert support—it’s all here. Time to Clean Those Leads.

