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Frequently Asked Questions

What is childhood lead poisoning?

• Lead poisoning is the #1 environmental health threat to children
• Lead is a heavy metal that is found naturally in our environment

Why should we worry about childhood lead poisoning?

• If not found early, lead poisoning can cause brain damage adn behavioral problems, including loss of intelligence, Attention Deficit Disorder and other growth, speech hearing and learning problems.
• In severe cases, lead poisoning can result in seizures, coma and even death.
• Lead poisoning can cause severe behavioral changes in children such as hyperactivity, lethargy and irritability.
• Many children who have been lead poisoned as young children experience problems with learning when they get to school.
• Some studies have shown that lead-poisoned children have a higher high school dropout rate and a higher likelihood of going to jail than children who have not been lead poisoned.

What are the symptoms?

• Most children who are lead poisoned do not have any symptoms.
• Symptoms that may appear include: headaches, stomaches, loss of appetitie, fatigue and crankiness.

Who is most at risk?

Children under the age of 7 are the most at risk for lead poisonning because:

• Children in this age group do not have a fully developed blood brain barrier. Any lead that gets into their bloodstream goes to their brain. Their brains are not fully developed at this point either so the lead can cause permanent brain damage.
• Young children are small and they absorb more lead than adults do.
• They are closer to the ground, they like to play on the floor, they tend to not wash their hands frequently and they put things in their mouths - all of these things increase a child's exposure to lead.

Pregnant women are also at risk.

• Women who are exposed to lead during pregnancy can pass the lead directly to their unborn child.

Should I have my child tested for lead poisoning?

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you should have your child tested:

• Is the child between the ages of 1-6 and eligible for or receiving benefits from WIC and/or Medicaid?
• Does the child live in or regularly visit a Zip code determined to be at high risk for lead poisoning (46803, 46806, 468076, 46808)?
• Does the child live in or regularly visit a home or day care center built before 1978 with peeling and /or chipping paint?
• Does the child have a sibling or playmate being treated for lead poisoning?
• Doest the child live with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead?
• Does the child live near a busy street, an active lead smelter or other industry likely to release lead?
• Does the family use imported or glazed ceramics for food preparation, storage or dinnerware? Are there any home remedies used such as thanakha?
• Does the child have medical findings consistent with lead poisoning? (This includes developmental delays, speech delays, anemia, hyperactivity, stomach aches, trouble with being potty trained or undiagnosed seizures)?

Where are the lead hazards found?

Dust

• Dust can become contaminated with lead from deteriorated lead-based paint and from soil that is blown or tracked in from outside.
• Dust can be breathed in or it can be ingested when it gets on children's hands, toys, pacifiers, etc.

Deteriorated lead-based paint

• Lead-based paint is not a hazard unless it is deteriorated (cracking, chipping, flaking, chalking).
• When it starts to deteriorate, it's chips, dust and debris are extremely poisonous to children.

Soil

• Soil can be contaminated from lead-based paint chipping and chalking off of old houses, garages and buildings. It can also be contaminated near busy streets because in the past, lead was used in gasoline

Water

• Water can be contaminated from lead pipes in the home.

Other sources

• Parent's jobs. If a parent or family member works with lead (home renovators, battery manufacturers, stained glass work, foundry work, etc.), they can bring lead home on their clothes. Change your clothes before coming into the house and wash clothes you've worn while working separately from the rest of the family.
• Toys. Some old toys and furniture can be painted with lead-based paint. Recently, several new toys (plastic and wood) were painted with lead-based paint or lead was used in the plastic. Sign up for email alerts from our Website by clicking here.
• Jewelry. Expensive and inexpensive jewelry can have lead in it. This is especially dangerous for children who like to put things in their mouths. Accidentally swallowing a piece of leaded jewelry can result in death. Keep all jewely away from young children, even jewelry designed for children unless you know there is no lead in it.
• Hobbies. Lead is used in some hobbies such as antique refinishing, making pottery or stained glass, fishing, making bullets, painting model cars, etc. Change your clothes before coming into the house and wash clothes you've worn during your hobby separately from the rest of the family. Do not let children use or play with leaded items.
• Imported medicines. Some fold or ethnic remedies contain lead such as thanakha, farouk, pay-loo-ah and azarcon.
• Imported candies. Some candies from Mexico may have been contaminated with lead. Do not give your children candy that could contain lead.

What can be done to prevent childhood lead poisoning?

• Safely remove lead hazards from the child's environment.
• Safely repair deteriorated lead-based paint and the debris & dust generated by it.
• Cover bare patches of dirt in the yard with grass or mulch.
• Safely clean the house using wet-cleaning methods on a weekly basis being sure to includ often-overlooked areas like windowsills and window wells.
• Run the cold water in the house for several minutes if it has been used for 4 hours or more. Only use the cold water for cooking and drinking - hot water should be used for washing purposes.
• Wash children's hands often, especially before eating and after playing outside.
• Do not allow children to play in bare dirt.
• Try to keep your child from chewing or sucking on things that are not meant to be eaten or that you think might not be safe (jewelry, keys, crayons, remote controls, cigarette butts, toys, dirt, sticks, etc.).