Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health problem facing young children today. Lead is an element, a soft gray metal that was used to make house paint more durable. Children between 1 year and 6 years of age are most affected by lead. Lead poisoning can cause slowed growth, decreased IQ, learning disabilities, and behavior problems such as aggressiveness and ADHD.

Exposure to lead is usually from lead paint in older homes. Lead paint was used in homes until 1978. Any home built before 1978 has the potential to have lead paint. When lead paint starts to deteriorate, or it is disturbed during home remodeling, it becomes a hazard. The paint turns to dust. The dust that results settles in the home and poisons children.

The lead dust gets on the children’s hand and toys. Children then put their hands and toys in their mouths. It takes a very small amount of lead dust to poison a child. Because younger children put more things in their mouths, they are more likely to get lead into their systems. The younger the child is when exposed to lead, the more severe the consequences.

Symptoms of lead poisoning are very vague and are often mistaken for other conditions. Headache, tiredness, upset stomach, and constipation can be symptoms of lead exposure. The only sure way to find out if your child has been exposed to lead is to have him/her tested. The test is a blood test. You can get the test through your family doctor’s office.

Keeping Children Safe

Lead poisoning in children is usually caused by exposure to lead dust in the home. Lead paint is usually found in the window wells (troughs), and trim or sills. These areas gets a lot of wear and tear from opening and closing windows, it is the most frequent area of lead exposure. The floors in these areas also get contaminated with lead dust from the open windows. By wet cleaning windowsills frequently, making sure that all paint chips are kept out of the window wells, and by wet mopping floors, exposure to lead can be kept at a minimum. Information on the proper way to clean your home for lead can be obtained from our office, or at the Michigan Department of Community Health website.

Children’s hands should also be washed frequently, to prevent lead exposure. Diet is also important in preventing lead poisoning. Children with diets that contain enough calcium and iron will absorb less lead. Making sure your child gets enough of these nutrients helps to prevent the absorption of lead. Low fat diets also help prevent the absorption of lead.

Other Sources of Lead

Although lead paint and lead paint dust is still the most common source of lead exposure for children, lead can be found in many other items that can be dangerous to children. Inexpensive jewelry, toys, sidewalk chalk, candy and many other items can be a source of lead exposure. There have been recalls of many items in the last few years. If you are interested in finding if something has been recalled, you can check online at: www.cpsc.gov. Just type in the name of the item in question in the search area and click search.

Is there anything else I can do?

The Muskegon County Health Department is available to provide information on lead-safe home repairs and to make referrals to lead abatement resources. Please call us at (231) 724-1209.