LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN

 What is lead poisoning?

 Lead is a metal that is poisonous and toxic to people especially children.  Children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning because lead can accumulate in their nervous system as they grow and develop. Babies and young children are at greatest risk because they have a tendency to put things in their mouth with exposure to lead.

 

How is lead poisoning caused?

Lead poisoning is caused by the absorption of lead into the body through breathing and eating.  Lead pipes and deteriorated lead-based paint in older homes and high levels of lead-contaminated house dust are the most common sources of lead poisoning. Lead has not been used in house paint since 1978, although older residences may have remnants of lead-based paint on their walls.   Household dust, containing lead from paint chips or soil, may be brought into the house. Lead can also be found in air water and food.  Children can get lead poisoning by chewing on pieces of peeling paint or by swallowing house dust or soil containing chips of the leaded paint from buildings.

Generally lead poisoning occurs slowly, resulting from the gradual accumulation of lead in bone and tissue after repeated exposure.  It is noteworthy that adults will excrete approximately 99% of the lead they absorb within a few weeks, while children will excrete approximately 32%. Following repeated exposure, lead is stored in various organs and tissues especially in the bones and teeth.

What are some signs and symptoms of lead poisoning?

 It is important to recognize that the symptoms and effects of lead poisoning can be very subtle and may take many forms.  Lead can cause both physical and neurological effects. High lead levels in the body can cause problems with the brain, kidneys and bone marrow.

Physical symptoms of lead exposure may include loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, anemia, and abdominal pain or distress.  Chronic or long-term effects may include learning disabilities, hyperactivity and impaired hearing.  If caught early, these effects can be limited by reducing exposure to lead or by medical treatment.

Which children are at risk for lead poisoning?

 Babies and young children are especially susceptible to lead exposure simply because they have a tendency to put things in their mouths.  Although lead exposure can affect any child, those who are most at risk are those who live in older housing especially in inner city areas.  Children may also be at risk if they live near environmental sources of lead, such as battery manufacturing plants, lead smelters, battery recycling plants or other lead industries.  More than 4 percent of children in the United States have lead poisoning, with higher rates in large cities and among people with low incomes. 

How is lead poisoning tested and treated?

 Lead poisoning is determined through blood tests, which may be performed at your doctor’s office or at your local health department.  If your child’s blood level is above an acceptable range your doctor or health professional will then test your child’s blood every few months until the level drops into the normal range.

Fortunately, only a small number of infants and children have high enough levels of lead in their blood as to require treatment. If your child’s blood level is very high, your physician will prescribe medicine to lower the amount of lead in the blood. 

If one or more of your children has high blood levels, your doctor will call your local health department.  Persons from the health department can assist by inspecting your home for old peeling paint and getting workers to remove the paint or cover it with new paint.

  Experts strongly recommend letting certified lead contractors remove the lead contaminated paint or from other sources.  By trying to remove lead paint yourself, you are almost guaranteed to make the hazard worse by stirring up lead chips, dust and fumes.

 

  Can lead poisoning be prevented?      

 Fortunately, environmental efforts have been made to reduce the incidence of lead poisoning.  For example, there has been a shift to unleaded gasoline for automobiles, and lead is no longer used in house paint.

There are some additional safeguards for reducing the possibility of lead exposure in the household.  You can keep your child away from any peeling paint which may contain lead.  Children should not have toys or old furniture which may contain lead paint.  Other precautions taken should be to wet mop floors, furniture, and windows to remove dust.  Children should be asked to wash their hands before they eat. If you live in an area with a lot of older homes or those that are being remodeled, have family members wipe and remove shoes before entering the house as to not track in lead contaminated dust.  If you are remodeling an old home, seal off the rooms that are being worked on, as dust from old paint may be exposed in these areas.   

What should I do if it is suspected that there is lead in my home?

You should contact your local public health agency if you suspect that your home may be lead contaminated.  Your home may be checked by a qualified inspector, who will use a kit to test the surfaces of your home as well as the water. 

 

 

Website References:

 www.lead-info.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiLead_poisoning

familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/safety/kids-family/617.html

www.civilrights.com/LeadPaintChildren.php

www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units

www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/lead.html

www.aafp.org/afp/200801