Lead Poisoning

Lead Poisoning

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• Why is lead poisoning a problem?
• How are children exposed to lead?
• Who is at risk of lead poisoning?
• Can lead poisoning be prevented?
• What can the public and parents do to reduce blood lead levels?
• What is the role of the Center for Disease Control in preventing lead poisoning?

Why is lead poisoning a problem?

Approximately 434,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than the CDC recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.

Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death.

How are children exposed to lead?

The major source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. However, approximately 24 million housing units in the United States have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than 4 million of these dwellings are homes to one or more young children.

Other sources of lead poisoning are related to:

• hobbies (making stained-glass windows)
• work (recycling or making automobile batteries)
• drinking water (lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, valves can all leach lead)
• home health remedies (arzacon and greta, which are used for upset stomach or indigestion; pay-loo-ah, which is used for rash or fever).