Why is exposure to lead harmful to young children?
Scientists have found that lead can disrupt the normal growth and development of a child’s brain and central nervous system. If this exposure happens at a critical time in brain development, the damage can be permanent. Young children are also more likely to be harmed by exposure to lead because the normal behavior of children – crawling on the floor, playing in dirt, putting objects in their mouths – puts them into immediate contact with any lead that might be present in their environment.
