Health:The Dangers of Lead for Your Child/Story: Sleepy Bird

The Dangers of Lead for Your Child — And Its Many Sources If you and your family live in an older home, your children might be at risk for lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is a serious condition that can irreversibly damage your child’s nervous system, brain and other organs. In addition to health problems, elevated levels of lead have been shown to cause learning disabilities and behavior problems that affect a child’s ability to pay attention. Lead is a poisonous metal that is especially dangerous to babies and young children. It is most often found in lead-based paint, in dust that forms when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded or worn down through use, and in soil that becomes contaminated with peeling, lead-based paint. Children living in homes built before 1978 or older homes undergoing renovation are at a higher risk for lead exposure due to lead-contaminated house dust and soil. Lead also is found in: • Water. • Leaded crystal glassware. • Lead-glazed pottery and ceramic ware. • Some hobby equipment. • Cosmetics, such as kohl. • Home remedies such as greta, a Mexican folk remedy taken commonly for stomachache or intestinal illness and azarcon, a folk remedy that usually contains substantial amounts of lead. • Painted toys and furniture, especially if they are older. Lead paint gets into children’s systems when they: • Eat or handle peeling paint chips and flakes that contain lead. • Put their hands, toys and other items covered with lead dust in their mouths. • Breathe lead dust. • Chew on windowsills, furniture and door frames and other items covered with lead-based paint. • Drink water from older water pipes made from lead. Many factors can affect how much lead is absorbed, but inhaled lead is more likely to be absorbed than ingested lead. Lead attaches to red blood cells, then moves into the soft tissues, such as the liver and lungs. If lead is absorbed into your bones, it can stay there for decades and recirculate in your blood if a bone is broken. Unfortunately, most cases of lead poisoning have no symptoms, says pediatrician Maria Tang, MD. Story: Sleepy Bird. By Jeremy Tankard