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Lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental threat to the health of children in
the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. According to the most recent survey, 4.4 percent of all U.S. children
ages 1-5 have levels of lead in their blood that equal or exceed the threshold
level of concern established by the federal Centers for Disease Control. The
prevalence of elevated blood lead levels remains disproportionately high among
some groups, such as children living in large urban centers (5.4 percent) or in
low-income families (8.0 percent), and among non-Hispanic black children
nationwide (11.2 percent). The highest prevalence of elevated blood-lead levels
reported (21.9 percent) occurs among non-Hispanic black children living in
housing built before 1946.
Lead was banned in U.S. residential paint in 1978, and banned in France and
many other countries as far back as 1920. Today, three-quarters of the nation’s
housing contains lead paint, and children aged 6 and under are most at risk.
Their developing bodies and brains are sensitive to even small amounts of lead,
which can leave children with irreversible injury that does not appear until
many years after the exposure to lead.
Lead-based paint can also be found in soil around homes as a result of
peeling and chipping paint and remodeling activities, such as sanding and
scraping of paint. Soils near roads may contain lead dust from automobile
exhaust deposited before leaded gasoline was phased out. People track this soil
into homes where children play on the floor, and sometimes children play in bare
soil contaminated with lead.
Lead can also be found in lead pipes or solder, imported or older ceramics
and pottery, certain hobbies and folk medicines. Parents who work in
lead-related industries can bring lead home on their clothing, exposing children
to the hazard.
New York State Public Health Regulations require all health care providers to
test all children for blood lead levels at age 1 and again at age 2. In
addition, health care providers are also required to evaluate all children 6
months to 6 years of age for risk of lead exposure each year as part of routine
care. Children found to be at risk for lead exposure should have a lead test. If
a child has an elevated lead level, the health care provider must make certain
the child has follow-up testing. Providers must also provide guidance on lead
poisoning prevention, risk reduction and nutritional counseling to the parent or
caregiver of children age 6 and younger.
Seek immediate medical attention if your child shows symptoms of any of the
following:
- Learning disabilities
- Brain damage (sometimes subtle)
- Loss of IQ points and intellect
- Academic failure
- Neuropsychological deficits
- Attention deficit disorder
- Hyperactive behavior
- Antisocial (criminal) behavior
- Neurological problems
- Encephalopathy (brain swelling)
- Major organ failure
- Coma
- Death
The early symptoms of lead poisoning are easy to confuse with other
illnesses, and difficult to diagnose without medical testing. In communities
where the houses are old and deteriorating, take advantage of available
screening programs offered by local health departments and have children checked
regularly to see if they are suffering from lead poisoning.
Understanding Your Child’s Lead Level
The current blood lead level which defines lead poisoning is 10 micrograms of
lead per deciliter of blood. However, since poisoning may occur at lower levels
than previously thought, various federal agencies are considering whether this
level should be lowered so that lead poisoning prevention programs will have the
latest information on testing children for lead poisoning.
The national goal for lead exposure, set by the National Centers for Disease
Control, is to have 95 percent of all children with blood lead levels below 10
micrograms per deciliter. However, some studies show that the presence of lead
contributes to a greater decline in IQ levels between 5 and 10 micrograms per
deciliter than it does between 10 and 20 deciliters.
How do you prevent lead
exposure in children?
Some guidelines:
- Frequently wash hands, pacifier, toys and
other items that may go in the mouth.
- Feed children nutritious low-fat meals high in
calcium and iron.
- Flush water from tap for two minutes before
drinking.
- Use cold tap water to prepare baby formula.
- Do not allow children or pets to play in dirt
within three feet of the house’s foundation.
- Wipe dust from horizontal surfaces (counters,
tables or floors) with a wet cloth or mop.
- Use a doormat to wipe feet or remove shoes to
keep dust out of the house.
- Remove imported vinyl mini-blinds from areas
frequented by small children.
- Keep children away from paint chips and lead
dust.
- Learn if your home contains lead-based paint.
- Contact your local health department for
guidelines on remodeling a home with lead-based paint.
- Avoid candy from Mexico or other countries
that contains tamarind and/or chili.
- Avoid storing or cooking food in traditional,
handmade pottery from Mexico.
If your child or your family member has been exposed to
lead or lead-based products, or you have experienced lead poisoning symptoms, you may be eligible
to file a claim against those who used or provided lead based products. Know
your legal rights. Contact the attorneys
of Belluck & Fox LLP. We will provide you with fast, personalized and
professional legal representation.
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