That's an excellent point - and one that is seldom discussed by restorers. Just about all durable paint used in the 50s and 60s was loaded with lead. You need to wear an approved respirator for lead, and take other precautions as well. Wash face & hands before smoking & eating. Don't wear lead contaminated clothing in the house, don't put it in with other laundry. Shower immediately after working with it. Keep the dust out of your eyes too, as lead will enter the body there as well.
The largest danger posed by lead is to children and the unborn.
Be very sure that the area where paint is removed will not be used by childern, mothers, or other unprotected persons. If you scrape or sand lead paint in your yard, the dirt will become contaminated, and can poison children. Little ones like to touch everything & they also like to put their fingers in their mouths. This same thing can happen by doing lead paint removal anywhere around the home. People, especially children, can get exposed & the damage to their organs may not show up for a long time.
This is really a very serious matter that should be considered by everyone.
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts13.html