BUREAU OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
BUREAU PROGRAMS
PUBLICATIONS
TRAINING & QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
QUICK LINKS
|
Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Information for Parents and Caregivers
On this page:
How do I know if my child has lead poisoning?
What are the health effects of lead poisoning?
When should my child be tested for lead?
What are the sources of lead exposure? How can I prevent/reduce exposure?
Ways to reduce/prevent lead absorption
Where can I find more information?
- A simple blood test is the only way to tell if your child is being affected by lead. It is important to ask your doctor to test your child because blood lead testing is not routine.
- There are often no signs or symptoms.
- Children can have lead poisoning and not look or act sick.
- In children, even low levels of lead exposure can result in damage to the brain and nervous system, and cause behavior and learning problems.
- Very high levels of lead in children can cause seizures, coma and even death.
- Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
- Lead is more dangerous to children for several reasons:
- Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
- Children's growing bodies absorb more lead than adults.
- Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
- Lead poisoning levels peak in children between the ages of 12 and 36 months of age.
- Medicaid eligible children are required to be tested at 12 and 24 months of age and between 36 and 72 months if not previously tested.
- Other children should be tested at that same frequency if they have risk factors.
- Lead testing is not usually part of a routine pediatric check up. Parents should ask their provider to test their child's blood for lead.
- The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978, but many homes and apartments built before 1978 still contain lead-based paint.
- Lead-based paint can be found inside and outside of single family homes, apartments, and both public and private housing built before 1978. It can also be found in homes
that are in the city, country, or suburbs.
- Dust from lead-based paint is the most common source of lead poisoning for children in the U.S.
- Home renovation and repair activities that disturb lead-based paint can put children at great risk for exposure to hazardous lead dust if not done properly.
Ways to Prevent Lead-Based Paint Exposure:
- Determine the construction year the house or the dwelling where your child spends a large amount of time (e.g., grandparents or daycare).
In housing built before 1978, assume that the paint has lead unless tests show otherwise.
- Consider testing your home for lead-based pain
and dust by an EPA certified lead risk assessor or
inspector. A list of EPA certified lead risk assessors and inspectors
in Florida can be found on the
EPA Region 4 Lead Website.
- Make sure your child does not have access to chipping, peeling, or chalking paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
Wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components regularly. Because household dust is a major source of lead,
parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe flat surfaces with a disposable cloth or paper towel every 2-3 weeks.
Windowsills and wells can contain high levels of leaded dust. They should be kept clean. If
possible, windows
should be shut to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces or opened from the top sash.
- Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources. Parents should clean and isolate all sources of lead. They should close and lock doors to keep children away
from chipping or peeling paint on walls. You can also apply temporary barriers such as contact paper or duct tape, to cover holes in walls or to block children's
access to other sources of lead, such as a window sill.
- For more ways to protect your children, view the EPA's
flyer
Childproof Your Home
- Children and pregnant women should not be present during renovations in housing built before 1978. They should not participate in activities that disturb
old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed.
- If you are considering renovation or repair work on
your pre-1978 home, see the EPA's flyer
Hire an EPA-Certified Lead Contractor.
- Children playing in yards can ingest or inhale lead dust from contaminated soil.
- Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint.
- Soil may be contaminated with lead from the past use of leaded gas in cars.
Ways to Prevent Lead Exposure from Soil:
- Regularly wash children's hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior
soil. Both are known lead sources.
- Prevent children from playing in bare soil. Parents should plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with
grass seed, mulch, or wood chips, if possible. Until the bare soil is covered, parents should move play areas
away from bare soil and away from the sides of the house. If using a sandbox, parents should also cover the
box when not in use to prevent cats from using it as a litter box. That will help protect children from
exposure to animal waste.
- Remove your shoes at the door. Shoes can track in dust and dirt from outside that may be contaminated with lead.
- Plumbing may have lead or lead solder which can contaminate your water.
- You cannot see, smell, or taste lead. Boiling your water will not get rid of lead.
- Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water.
Ways to reduce lead exposure from drinking water:
- Use only cold water
from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Most of the lead in
household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.
- Work and hobbies sites where lead is used have lead dust. Individuals can bring it home on their hands or clothes.
- Hobbies that use lead include making pottery, stained glass, jewelry making, refinishing furniture, home repair and many others.
- Jobs that involve lead include battery recycling or manufacturing, smelting or welding, heating/air
conditioning or ventilation maintenance, auto/radiator repair, and bridge painting.
Ways to reduce lead exposure from Jobs and Hobbies:
- Avoid taking lead dust home from work or hobby sites. Household members who come in contact with lead through
work or a hobby should change clothes and shower after finishing a task that involves lead-based products.
Examples include, home renovation and repair, stain glass work, bullet or fishing sinker making, or using a
firing range. Launder work clothes separately from the rest of your family's clothes.
- Some painted toys and old furniture contain lead.
- Traditional home remedies, imported candies, and some
cookware may also contain lead.
Ways to reduce lead exposure from Consumer Products:
- Avoid eating candies imported from Mexico
- Avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead free.
- Remove recalled toys and
toy jewelry immediately from children.
- Check Lead Recalls lists.
- If you are concerned that a product you own may contain
lead you can also have it tested.
- Laboratory testing is the most accurate method for determining if a product has lead. Use the internet or phone book to find
a laboratory in your area.
- In home testing kits are also available at local hardware stores. Be aware that these kits only test the surface
for lead and are not considered the most reliable method for determining the presence or absence of lead in a
product.
- Food may become contaminated when lead leaches from these containers.
- Avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead free.
- Some traditional or folk remedies contain lead, such as "greta" and "azarcon". These items
are sometimes used to treat an upset stomach.
- Avoid using traditional home remedies and cosmetics that may
contain lead.
- Stomachs that are full are less likely to absorb lead.
Young children and pregnant women should consume well
balanced meals.
- Provide a diet high in vitamin C, calcium, and iron. This includes foods such as fruits, cheese, milk,
lean meat, nuts, dried beans and peas, raisins and prunes.
- Breastfeed your
baby. Even if you have been exposed to lead, it is usually ok to breastfeed. Discuss your concerns with
your doctor.
Visit our other pages:
Need additional information?
Florida defers to federal EPA rules regarding lead-based paint practices and certification requirements. If you have additional lead questions please go
to http://epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 1 (800) 424-LEAD (5323).
|
