r lead poisoning.
How can lead hurt my child?
Children, primarily those younger than 6 years, can be exposed to lead if they
Get lead dust from old paint on their hands or toys and then put their hands
in their mouths
Breathe in lead dust from old paint
Eat chips of old paint or dirt that contain lead
Drink water from pipes lined or soldered with lead
Once lead enters the body, it travels through the bloodstream and is stored
mainly in the bones where it can remain for a lifetime. Very high levels of lead
in the body may cause many long-term problems, including
Developmental delays
Hearing loss
Seizures and coma
Kidney problems
Anemia
Growth problems
Most children with high lead levels in their blood show no obvious
symptoms until they reach school age. At that point, some may show learning
and behavioral problems. Others with high lead levels may experience
symptoms such as stomach pain, headaches, vomiting, or muscle weakness.
Where can lead be found?
You may have heard that children can be harmed by the lead in pencils. This
is not true. There is no actual lead in pencils and there is no lead in the paint
on the outside of pencils. Lead is found in the following places:
Dust and paint chips from old paint
Homes built before 1950, particularly those that are in need of repair or
are in deteriorating condition
Homes built before 1978 that are being renovated
Soil that has lead in it
Hobby materials such as stained glass, paints, solders, shing weights,
and buckshot
Folk remedies
Workplace dust brought home on the clothing of people who have jobs
that use lead, such as foundry workers, smelter workers, and radiator
repair mechanics
Food stored in some ceramic dishes (especially if made in another country)
Older painted toys and antique furniture such as cribs
Tap water in older homes that have lead pipes or lead solder in their pipes
Automobile batteries
Preventionwhat you can do
If your home was built before 1950, ask your childs pediatrician to test
your child for lead.
If your home was built before 1978, talk with your childs pediatrician
or your health department about safe ways to remodel before any work
is done.
When removing lead paint, be sure to use a certied contractor. Trying to
remove the paint on your own can often make the condition worse. Know
your states laws regarding lead removal. Some states only allow certied
contractors to remove lead. Be sure to seal off the room or area you are
remodeling with heavy plastic until the job is done.
Lead Screening
for Children
Should my child be screened for lead?
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, especially
numbers 1, 2, and 3, your child may need to be screened for lead. Talk
to your pediatrician about lead screening for your child.
1. Does your child live in or regularly visit a house that was built before
1950, including a home child care center or the home of a relative?
2. Does your child live in or regularly visit a house built before 1978
that has been remodeled in the last 6 months? Are there any plans
to remodel?
3. Does your child have a brother, sister, housemate, or playmate who
is being treated for lead poisoning?
4. Does your child live with an adult whose job or hobby involves
exposure to lead?
5. Does your child live near an active lead smelter, battery-recycling
plant, or other industry likely to release lead into the environment?
6. Does your child live within 1 block of a major highway or
busy street?
7. Has your child ever been given home remedies such as azarcon,
greta, or pay looah?
8. Has your child ever lived outside the United States?
9. Does your family use pottery or ceramics for cooking, eating,
or drinking?
10. Have you seen your child eat paint chips?
11. Have you seen your child eat soil or dirt?
12. Have you been told your child has low iron?
Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Screening Young
Children for Lead Poisoning: Guidance for State and Local Public Health Ofcials. Clean and cover any chalking, aking, or chipping paint with a new coat of
paint, duct tape, or contact paper. It is important to check for paint dust or
aking paint at window areas where children often play. Be aware that these
are temporary measures only, and that lead must be completely removed
for your childs best protection.
Repair areas where paint is dusting, chipping, or peeling before placing
cribs, playpens, beds, or highchairs next to them.
Wet mop oors, damp sponge walls and horizontal surfaces, and
vacuum with a high-efciency particulate air vacuum (HEPA vac) if you
are concerned about the possibility of lead dust in your home. Although
good cleaning is a temporary solution, complete removal of the lead is
the best protection.
Encourage your children to wash their hands often, especially before
eating.
Have your home or apartment checked for possible lead contamination
before moving in. Keep in mind that landlords are legally responsible for
removing any lead found on their property.
If you work around lead or have hobbies that involve lead, change clothes
and shoes before entering your home. Keep clothes at work or wash work
clothes as soon as possible.
Check with your childs pediatrician or your health department to see if
your area has a problem with lead in the water.
If you have lead pipes, run the rst morning tap water for 2 minutes before
using it for drinking or cooking. Use cold tap water for mixing formula,
drinking, or cooking because hot tap water can have higher amounts of
lead in it.
You can also reduce the risks of lead by making sure your child eats a well-
balanced diet. Give your child nutritious, low-fat foods that are high in calcium
and iron, like meat, beans, spinach, and low-fat dairy products. Calcium and
iron in particular reduce the amount of lead absorbed by the body.
Lead screening
The only way to know for sure if your child has been exposed to lead is to have
your childs pediatrician test your childs blood. Lead screening tests use either
a small amount of blood from a nger prick or a larger sample of blood from a
vein in the arm. These tests measure the amount of lead in the blood.
Treatment
For children with low levels of lead in their blood, identify and eliminate the
sources of lead to avoid future health problems. Children with high levels of
lead in their blood usually need to take a drug that binds the lead in the blood
and helps the body get rid of it. This treatment may be given as a series of
shots or as oral medicine depending on the severity of the lead poisoning.
Some children with lead poisoning need more than one type of treatment
and several months of close follow-up. If the damage is severe, the child
may need special schooling and therapy.
The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and
advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend
based on individual facts and circumstances.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists,
and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Web sitewww.aap.org
From your doctor
Copyright © 2005
American Academy of Pediatrics
Remember
Most young children put things other than food into their mouths.
They chew on toys, taste the sand at the park, and eat cat food if given
the chance. This rarely causes any harm, as long as poisons, small items
that children can choke on, and sharp objects are kept out of reach. Lead,
however, can be very dangerous to children. Infants and toddlers can get
lead poisoning by putting their ngers in their mouths after touching lead
dust, eating lead paint chips, or breathing in lead dust. Lead poisoning
can cause developmental delay, hearing loss, seizures and coma, kidney
problems, anemia, and growth problems. Talk with your childs pediatri-
cian about getting a blood test, especially if your child is younger than
3 years. Take the steps listed in this brochure to make sure your child is
not exposed to lead.