Why should pregnant women be concerned about lead poisoning?
A pregnant woman can pass lead to her fetus. Low levels of lead in the body when a child’s brain is developing can slow the child’s development and cause learning and behavior problems. To help prevent lead from affecting a child, pregnant women should not: engage in any activity that disturbs lead-based paint live in or be present in a house or apartment where work is under way that disturbs lead-based paint return to a house or apartment where lead-based paint has been disturbed until at least 24 hours after the work has been completed What can I do to help protect my family from lead? Keep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as you can. Mop floors and wipe window ledges with a mixture of powdered dishwasher detergent and warm water. Wash toys and stuffed animals often. Make sure that children wash their hands before meals, after playing outdoors, at naptime, and at bedtime. Try to keep your children from eating dirt. Wash your hands before preparing food.
