• Lead can affect children’s brains & developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, & behavior problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.
• Lead dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible
• Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978
• Projects that disturb painted surfaces can create dust & endanger you & your family

Why are children at the highest risk for lead poisoning?

• Lead is especially dangerous to children under 6 years of age
• Small children tend to put things in their mouths & play on the floors. This exposes the child to lead if there are lead hazards in the home. If swallowed, lead tends to absorb more easily in a young child than an adult
• Lead poising can have developmental affects on a child’s internal organs, nervous system, bones & brain. Other effects can include learning disabilities, behavioral problems & growth delays
• Children with diets low in calcium & iron tend to absorb more lead, so good nutrition is an important factor to prevent lead poisoning
• Children may also be exposed to lead from toys that have been made in foreign countries & then imported into the USA or older toys manufactured before the lead paint restriction enforcement in 1978
• Lead in metal costume jewelry may also pose a threat if manufactured outside the USA & in violation of Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) strict guidelines

What are the symptoms associated with lead poisoning?

• Typically lead poisoning has no outward signs or symptoms. In extreme cases symptoms could include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy or seizures
• Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies
• A blood test is the only way to tell if you or your family member already have lead poisoning.

Are adults at risk for lead poisoning?

• Unless adults work with lead in some capacity they are not typically at risk
• Some types of situations that might expose adults to lead include doing carpentry or painting on older homes, working in construction, working on automobiles, & working with metals
• Unknowingly adults working with or around lead can bring home lead dust on their clothes & shoes
• Renovations on homes built before 1978, can produce lead hazards if the work is not done in a lead-safe manner. Pregnant women, children & adults should be careful if living in or visiting a home where renovations are or have taken place

Possible effects of lead in pregnant women

• Pregnant women should consult their doctor for a blood test if exposed to lead. A mother with elevated levels of lead in her blood could risk passing on the harmful effects of lead because lead crosses the placenta to the fetus
• If a pregnant women has lead in her body, the baby could be born too early, too small, have health issues & learning problems

Some tips to help protect your family everyday

• Regularly clean floors, window sills & other surfaces
• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers & toys often
• Make sure children eat a healthy nutritious diet consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, that helps protect children from the effects of lead
• Wipe off shoes before entering the house