Lead Poisoning
Lead is a highly toxic substance, exposure to which can produce a wide range of adverse health effects. Both adults and children can suffer from lead poisoning but childhood lead poisoning is much more common. Over the years since we have known about the hazards of lead, tens of millions of children have suffered its effects. Even today, it’s estimated that more than 300,000 children younger than age 6 have too much lead in their blood.
Health Effects
There are many health effects associated with elevated blood lead levels. Children younger than 6 are especially vulnerable to lead’s harmful health effects because their brains and central nervous system are still forming. For them, even very low levels of exposure can result in reduced IQs, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing and kidney damage.
At high levels of exposure, a child may become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die. Lead poisoning is also associated with juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior.
Exposure
Exposure to lead-contaminated dust is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning. Lead dust can be difficult to eliminate because its particles are often invisible to the naked eye. These microscopic particles are easily ingested by children who come into contact with the lead dust while crawling on the floor, grasping window sills that may have lead-contaminated paint chips or dust or playing with unwashed toys that happen to have lead-contaminated dust on them. Once on a child’s fingers, lead dust is likely to be ingested via the hand-to-mouth activities are a normal part of a child’s early years.
Lead-Based Paint
By far, the most common source of lead poisoning is the lead-based paint used in older homes. Until 1978, lead-based paint was frequently used on house interiors and exteriors; about 38 million homes in the U.S. still contain some lead-based paint. According to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) survey, an estimated 14,200 or 14 percent of licensed child care centers in the U.S. have significant lead-based paint hazards. Centers in older buildings are more likely to have significant lead-based paint hazards than those in newer buildings. An estimated 26 percent of centers built before 1960 have significant lead-based paint hazards.
Lead-based paint that is in intact condition does not pose an immediate concern. However, lead-based paint that is allowed to deteriorate can contaminate household dust as well as bare soil around the house, where children may play. A child who comes into contact with lead-contaminated dust or soil is easily poisoned.
Lead Paint on Toys
With a high percentage of toys manufactured in countries that lack the strict U.S. inspection and quality assurance procedures, there have been numerous toy recalls due to lead paint on toys. To monitor the safety of your child’s toys, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site, www.cpsc.gov, for product recalls.
Drinking Water
Drinking water can also contribute to elevated blood lead levels. Lead can leach into drinking water from certain types of plumbing materials (lead pipes, copper pipes with lead solder, and brass faucets). While water is not usually a primary source of children’s exposure to lead, it is important to note that formula-fed infants are at risk of lead poisoning if their formula is made with lead-contaminated water.
Prevention
Hire a professional to determine if your home or facility contains lead or a lead-based paint hazard. Certified risk assessors can conduct inspections for the presence of lead in paint, dust, soil and water.
