| LEAD
POISONING PREVENTION WEEK 
Lead is a toxic metal that can be present in the paint,
soil, dust and water in your home. If you have a child under
the age of six, you should be alert to the danger of lead
poisoning in your home environment. Your children can get
lead in their bodies in different ways.
According to Rich Janssen, CSKT Environmental Protection
Manager children can get lead poisoning from eating paint chips
or soil that contains lead. It can happen if they chew on
surfaces that have been painted with lead-based paint such as
imported painted toys, Venetian or mini blinds or window sills.
Lead poisoning can come from kids putting their hands or objects
covered in lead paint in their mouths. Also, if your children
eat certain candies or canned foods imported from Mexico, they
might be exposed to dangerous amounts of lead.
Children who have lead in their bodies are at serious risk of
damage to the brain which can lead to developmental problems
such as decreased intelligence, hearing loss, and learning
disabilities. Some common symptoms of lead poisoning are
headaches, abdominal pains, clumsiness, irritability, and
tiredness, but a child with lead poisoning might not show any
symptoms at all. The only way to be sure if your child has lead
poisoning is through a simple test that measures the amount of
lead in the child’s blood.
Thankfully, you have the power to protect your child from the
harmful effects of lead. Here are five easy steps that you can
take to prevent your child from being exposed to lead in your
home:
- Ask a doctor to test your children's blood for lead,
even if they seem healthy. Your doctor can explain what the
test results mean and what action should be taken.
- Feed your children healthy, low-fat foods high in
calcium, iron and vitamin C. These nutrients help to prevent
lead from absorbing into your child’s growing bones.
- Ensure that your children wash their hands before meals
and after playing. Also, do not let them eat imported
candies suspected of containing lead.
- Wipe down window sills, banisters, floors and other
surfaces in your home with a damp cloth or mop at least once
a week. This will clean up any lead dust that might be
present in your home. Put the material used for cleaning in
a plastic bag for disposal.
- If your home was built before 1978 and has peeling or
chipping paint, have your home tested for lead and fix any
hazards you may have. Contact your local health department
for guidance on how to safely fix lead-based paint hazards
in your home.
Your commitment to these simple steps will not only protect
your child from the harmful effects of lead, but will ensure a
brighter future for your community.
For more information on lead and lead poisoning,
contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD
(5253), c Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at
800-424-LEAD (424-5323) to speak with an information specialist
as staff members are available Monday through Friday, 8:00am to
6pm, Eastern Time, or visit EPA’s website at
www.epa.gov/lead
|
