Childhood Lead
Poisoning
The CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is
committed to the goal of eliminating elevated blood lead levels in children.
Approximately 250,000 children in the U.S. between the ages of 1 and 5 have
blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.
This is the level at which the CDC recommends public health actions be taken.
Lead Poisoning is entirely preventable. The goal is to prevent lead exposure in
children before the children are
harmed.
Children under the age of 6 are the most at risk because
they grow so rapidly, and they tend to put their hands and other objects in
their mouths. These objects may be contaminated with lead dust. Here are some
tips to reduce your child’s risk of Lead Poisoning.
---Determine the construction year of your house, and any
other dwelling where your child spends a large amount of time. If the building
was constructed prior to 1978, assume the paint has lead until tests show
otherwise. WISE is certified to test
for lead levels in residences.
---Pregnant women & children should not occupy
housing built before 1978 that is undergoing any renovation that may disturb
old paint.
---Regularly wash your child’s hands and toys. Stay up to
date with toy recalls due to the use of lead-based paint by visiting Lead Paint
Toy Recalls (http://leadtoyrecalls.com/)
---Household dust is a major source of lead. Wet-mop
floors & wet-wipe window components every 2-3 weeks.
---Prevent children from playing in bare oil. Please
grass on areas of bare soil if possible. If using a sandbox, cover the box when
not in use to prevent cats from using it as a litter box.
---Avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware that
are not shown to be lead-free.
---Use only cold water from the tap for drinking,
cooking, and making baby formula. Hot water typically contains higher levels of
lead.
---Shower and change your clothes after completion of any
task that involves working with lead-based products, such as stain glass work, bullet-making,
or using a firing range.
Planning to buy or
rent a home built before 1978?
Federal law requires that you receive certain information
before renting or purchasing a home built prior to 1978. Landlords must disclose any known information on lead-based
paint before the lease tasks effect. Leases must include a disclosure form
about lead-based paint. Sellers must
disclose any known information on lead-based paint before selling a house.
Sales contracts are required to include a disclosure form about lead-based
paint. As the buyer, you have up to 10 (ten) days to check for lead hazards.
For assistance in checking for lead hazards, contact one of our consultants
before buying a new home.
Besides pre-1978
homes, where can lead be found?
---In the soil, which can pick up lead from exterior
paint.
---Drinking water. Your house’s plumbing could have lead
or lead solder. Contact your local health department or water supplier to find
out about getting your water tested. Boiling your water will not get rid of
lead. If you think your plumbing has lead in it, use only cold water for
drinking & cooking, and run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it.
---If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your
hands or clothes. Before coming home, shower and change clothes to reduce your
family’s exposure to lead dust.
| What is the Lead problem?
-Approximately 310,000 children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater
than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which
the CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead poisoning
can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often
occurs with no obvious symptoms, it can frequently go unrecognized.
Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavior problems, and,
at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death. Lead poisoning is
entirely preventable. The key is stopping children from coming into
contact with lead, and treating children who have been poisoned by lead.
-The
goal is to prevent lead exposure to children before they are harmed.
There are many ways parents can reduce a child's exposure to lead.
Common Sources of Lead
-Lead-based
paint is the major source of exposure for lead in U.S. children. All
houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint.
However, it is the deterioration of the paint that causes a problem.
How WISE Can Help
-Beginning
in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting
projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities,
and schools built before 1978 must be certified, and must follow
specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Due to this EPA
regulation (40 CFR Part 745), WISE has partnered with the University of
Las Vegas' Harry Reid Center in developing the Initial Lead Safety for
Repair, Renovation & Painting course (see training catalog here)
for those contractors that will perform common renovation activities
like sanding, cutting, and demolition, which can create hazardous lead
dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint.
For More Information
EPA - Lead-Based Paint Resource Center
EPA & National Head Start Association's "Give Your Child the Chance of a Lifetime" Campaign
National Lead Information Center
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