What is childhood lead poisoning?
Childhood lead poisoning is a disease that occurs when children are exposed to too much lead. Lead poisoning can be prevented. How do Children Become Lead-Poisoned? Children can become lead-poisoned by: • Eating lead-based paint chips. • Putting dirty hands or toys in their mouths. Household dust in older homes often contains lead that gets on children’s hands and toys. • Breathing in dust from lead-based paint that is being sanded or removed with a heat gun. Why Should Iowa Parents Be Concerned? If a child lives in or visits your home, you should be concerned because: • Lead poisoning is usually caused by lead-based paint found in homes built before 1960. • About 60 percent of the homes in Iowa, both in urban and rural areas, were built before 1960. What are the Signs of Lead Poisoning? Many lead-poisoned children do not show any signs of the disease. Some, however, may have the following symptoms; • Easily excited • Not able to pay attention • Stomach aches • More tired than usual Le
There is no safe level of lead in blood; however, according to Florida’s case definition of childhood lead poisoning: children age 72 months or younger with confirmed lead levels greater than or equal to 10 µg per deciliter are considered lead poisoned. This is in concert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s level of concern. There are two main pathways for lead to enter the body. These are termed: pathways of exposure. Ingestion is a pathway of exposure that usually occurs when one has hand to mouth contact. Inhalation is another pathway of exposure that includes breathing lead particles into your system. Usually, ingestion is the main pathway of exposure for children, but inhalation is the main pathway of exposure for adults. The diagram below shows many different sources and pathways of exposure. Children under the age of six will always be especially at risk to sources of lead in the environment. Their developing bodies are more likely to absorb lead and their beha
Childhood lead poisoning is a preventable environmental problem. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems if it is swallowed or inhaled. Lead can disrupt the normal growth and development of a child’s brain and central nervous system, and cause damage to the kidneys and blood. Young children under the age of six are most at risk because their bodies and brains are rapidly developing. Most children with lead poisoning have no symptoms. The only way to know if a child has lead poisoning is to do a blood test.
• Lead enters the blood through the ingestion or inhalation of lead particles • Lead accumulates in the blood and bones over short or long periods of time Children At Risk Children under six years have the greatest risk for lead poisoning; their bodies absorb and retain more lead than adults. • Hand to mouth behavior • Higher food consumption per body size/weight • Vulnerable developmental stage; brain/immune system Signs and Symptoms Children with Lead Poisoning may not look or act sick. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other illness. • Tiredness • Headaches • Short attention span • Vomiting • Restlessness • Poor appetite • Constipation • Behavioral changes (hyperactivity) More severe signs include: • Changes in consciousness • Sight and hearing loss • Convulsions Lead Targeted Screening Policy State of California • All low income children eligible for Medi-Cal, CHDP, Healthy Families, or WIC require a blood lead test at ages 12 and 24 months. • If child is 15 months old and
