What is Lead Poisoning? Lead is a heavy metal used in many materials and products. When absorbed into the body, it is highly toxic to many organs and systems. Lead is a natural element and does not break down in the environment. Once lead has been dispersed and redeposited in the environment, it will remain to poison generations of children unless it is controlled or removed. Even very limited exposures to lead are hazardous to children. The Problem of Childhood Lead Poisoning Over the past 20 years, childhood lead poisoning has declined dramatically in the United States due to limits on lead in gasoline, paint, food cans, and other consumer products. However, lead poisoning is still an important health problem, affecting an estimated 890,000 preschoolers. That means that about 4.4% of children aged 1 to 5 have too much lead in their bodies. (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) While lead poisoning crosses all socioeconomic, geographic, and racial boundaries, the burden of this disease falls disproportionately on low-income families and families of color. In the U.S., children from poor families are eight times more likely to be poisoned than those from higher income families. African-American children are five times more likely to poisoned than white children. Nationwide, about 22% of African-American children living in older housing are lead poisoned – a staggering statistic. In some communities, the poisoning rate is much higher. Health Effects Lead affects practically all systems within the body. Lead is most harmful to children under age six because lead is easily absorbed into their growing bodies, and interferes with the developing brain and other organs and systems. Pregnant women and women of child-bearing age are also at increased risk, because lead ingested by the mother can cross the placenta and affect the unborn fetus. At very high levels of lead exposure, which are now very rare in the US, lead poisoning can cause mental retardation, coma, convulsions, and even death. More commonly in the US, children are poisoned through chronic, low-level exposure. Low-level lead exposure can cause reduced IQ and attention span, hyperactivity, impaired growth, reading and learning disabilities, hearing loss, insomnia, and a range of other health, intellectual, and behavioral effects. At these low, but still dangerous levels, lead poisoning may not present identifiable symptoms and a blood test is the only way to know if a child is poisoned. Except for severely poisoned children, there is no medical treatment for this disease. Even then, the treatment may only reduce the level of lead present in the body, without completely eliminating it. The only way to prevent lead poisoning is to remove the source of exposure. Sources of Lead Poisoning As a result of the extensive use of lead over several centuries in the US, lead can be found in paint, dust, soil, water, air, and food. Lead-Based Paint. More children are poisoned by exposure to lead dust from lead-based paint in older homes than by any other source, usually through normal hand-to-mouth activity after getting lead dust on their hands and toys. Also, children can be seriously poisoned by eating lead-based paint chips, but this is relatively rare. (For more information on lead-based paint in housing, see the next section.) Soil in the vicinity of the home can be contaminated from flaking exterior lead-based paint or previous deposits of leaded gasoline. Exterior sandblasting can produce exceptionally high levels of lead in soil. Children then play in that dirt and directly ingest it, or it is tracked into the house on shoes. Some soil has been contaminated by lead from prior gasoline use. Drinking water can also contain lead from pipes or solder and contribute to childhood lead poisoning especially when contaminated tap water is used to make baby formula. Parents who work in lead-related industries can also bring lead home on their clothes, exposing children to the hazard. Point sources include workplace exposures to lead, which are often extreme with workers receiving doses well above those experienced by the general population. The most heavily lead-exposed adults are almost exclusively found to be those who work with lead, particularly in the absence of adequate ventilation and other controls. Moreover, exposed workers may carry lead particles home on their clothing, shoes, or hair, putting family members in jeopardy. Those who work in construction, demolition, painting, with batteries, radiator repair shops, lead factories, or a hobby that involves lead are often exposed to lead. Other less common sources include food and drink stored in leaded crystal, lead soldered cans, or lead glazed ceramicware; hobbies that involve lead; and home remedies and cosmetics that are popular in some cultures. Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing National health experts agree that exposure to lead-contaminated dust from lead-based paint in older homes is the primary pathway of lead poisoning in young children. Lead dust settles quickly, is difficult to clean up, and can be invisible to the naked eye. Young children usually are poisoned through normal hand-to-mouth activity, after they get lead dust on their toys and hands. Rarely, children can also ingest paint chips or flakes. The mere presence of lead-based paint in a home is not a hazard: two-thirds of all US housing contains some leaded paint, and the vast majority of children live safely in these homes and apartments. Two scenarios account for the vast majority of poisoning in children. Most commonly, children are poisoned by lead dust from deteriorated paint in poorly maintained older housing. A lesser number of cases – though often more serious – are caused by repainting and remodeling projects that disrupt old painted surfaces without proper safeguards to control, contain, and clean-up lead dust. Housing age is an important predictor of risk, because the lead content of paint varied substantially over the past century. During the first half of the twentieth century, the lead content of paint was marketed as a measure of its quality – the more lead the better. Prior to about 1940, leaded paints typically contained high amounts of lead – often 10% and sometimes as high as 50%. In the early 1950s, voluntary paint industry standards called for limiting lead content to 1%, and Federal regulations limited lead content in 1972 and effectively banned lead in residential paints in 1978. Lead was added to make paint durable, so lead paint was frequently used in high-traffic and high-moisture areas – kitchens and bathrooms, exterior siding and trim, window and door trim, kitchens, stairs, porches, etc. Protecting Your Family From Lead Hazards There are several steps that can help reduce your family’s exposure to lead: If you believe that your child under age 6 may have been exposed to lead, have your child’s blood tested for lead. Make sure it is a blood lead test and that you are told the actual number for your child’s blood lead. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a blood lead of 10 ug/dl as a level of concern, indicating that you should take steps to reduce ongoing lead exposure. At higher blood lead levels, more aggressive measures are recommended. If you purchase or rent a home built before 1978, you should review carefully the information provided to you about lead-based paint hazards. As a result of federal requirements that went into effect in 1996, property owners must provide an educational hazards in properties built before 1978 and must be given a pamphlet about lead and disclose any known hazards. Prospective purchasers also have the option to have the property tested for lead hazards at their own expense. Good maintenance is important to keep old lead-based paint intact. When repairing old paint – or doing home improvement projects that disturb old paint – watch out for lead dust. Don’t power sand or burn off old paint with an open flame. Do put down plastic to catch lead dust and protect floors and belongings. Wet mop the work area afterward with a good detergent to clean up lead dust. Have your home evaluated for lead hazards by a state- or EPA-certified risk assessor or send a dust or paint sample to a laboratory. Remember, if your home was built before 1978, chances are that it contains some lead paint – it’s almost certain to be present in pre-1950 homes. Keep in mind that intact lead paint is rarely a hazard. Do not remove lead-based paint yourself. This can be extremely hazardous. Keep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as possible. Wet mop floors and wipe window ledges and surfaces such as cribs with an automatic dishwasher detergent and warm water. Have children play in sand and grassy areas instead of dirt which sticks to the their fingers and toys. Have children wash their hands after playing outside, and before meals, naps and at bedtime. Do not bring lead dust into your home from the workplace or environment. Wipe your feet before entering your home. Remove work clothes and wash them separately from the rest of your family’s clothing. Have your water tested for lead. Water may contain lead from pipes or solder painted with lead paint. Eat a healthy diet that includes iron, calcium and foods low in fat. Foods rich in iron include eggs, red meats, and beans. A healthy diet causes the body to absorb less lead. (From the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning Web Site) More Resources
- "Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide" (EPA) (PDF format, 2,128 KB, 67 pages) June 1998 (EPA 747-B-98-002) EPA has released this colorful and comprehensive new guide to educate parents and homeowners about lead hazards and lead poisoning prevention in the home. This new guide book is intended for people who already know that lead is a potential problem and who want to learn more about what they can do to help prevent lead poisoning and reduce lead hazards. Please note that individual copies are available free from the NLIC.
- "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home" ( EPA) (PDF format) (June 2003) Also available in Spanish and other formats Provides general information about lead and lead hazards, including the names and phone numbers of where to get additional help.
- "Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home",(EPA) September 1997 (EPA 747-K-97-001). This version replaces the previous version of April 1994. (PDF format) Also available in Spanish (EPA 747-K-97-002) from the National Lead Information Center. This pamphlet is for anyone involved in a home improvement project - whether you are actually doing the work yourself or overseeing the work of renovation and remodeling professionals.
- "Testing Your Home for Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil", July 2000 (EPA 747-K-00-001). (PDF format) This publication is for anyone who is considering having a home or residence tested for lead in paint, dust, or soil by a professional. It explains the technical aspects of lead testing without overwhelming the reader.
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