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| What Every Parent Should Know About Lead Poisoning in Children | ||
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For children at risk for lead exposure, a simple blood test can prevent a lifetime spoiled by the irreversible damage caused by lead poisoning. | |
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One of the most important risk factors for lead exposure is the age of housing. Over 80 percent of all homes built before 1978 in the U.S. have lead-based paint in them. The older the house, the more likely it is to contain lead-based paint and a higher concentration of lead in the paint. | |
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According to recent CDC estimates, 890,000 U.S. children age 1-5 have elevated blood lead levels, and more than one-fifth of African-American children living in housing built before 1946 have elevated blood lead levels. These figures reflect the major sources of lead exposure: deteriorated paint in older housing, and dust and soil that are contaminated with lead from old paint and from past emissions of leaded gasoline. | |
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Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death. | |
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Children between 12 and 36 months of age have a lot of hand to mouth activity, so if there is lead in their homes, they are more likely to take it in than are older children. | |
| For more information, talk to your pediatrician or call the National Lead Information Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-800-424-LEAD (1-800-424-5323). | ||
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This page last reviewed September 16, 2004
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