Nearly half a million children under the age of 5 in the United States currently have blood lead levels high enough to cause irreversible damage to their health. Adults and children are both at risk for lead poisoning, but children are more vulnerable because their growing bodies absorb lead more readily. While many parents remain unaware, this silent poison may be damaging their child's life and future.
Lead can affect almost every organ in the human body and is particularly harmful to the developing brain and central nervous system of a fetus and young child. The most important step in treating a poisoned child is to end the exposure by removing the lead source from the child's environment.
The most common source of lead exposure is dust found in older homes containing lead-based paint. This dust may be easily ingested through hand-to-mouth activity typical of young children. Paint chips, lead lead-contaminated soil, drinking water, food, ceramics, herbal home remedies, toy jewelry, hair dyes, and other cosmetics are also potential sources of lead exposure found in the home.
The term silent poison refers to the fact that lead-poisoned children may exhibit no outward symptoms. While he or she may seem perfectly healthy, irreversible damage may be occurring. A blood lead test is the only way to find out if your child has been exposed.
To encourage more parents and guardians to take this preventive step, a less-invasive blood lead screening technique geared for the pediatric population was developed and is available at
numerous doctors' offices and clinics. The filter paper lead screen, such as the one offered by MEDTOX Laboratories in St. Paul, Minnesota provides an accurate result with only two drops of blood. This test can replace more traumatic venous and capillary tube collections as an accurate screening tool.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children be screened at both 12 and 24 months of age, or at least once by age 6 if they have not yet been tested. Screening should start as young as 6 months if the child is at an elevated risk for lead exposure. One group of children at higher risk is those who live in or regularly visit a home built before 1978.
In addition to a blood test, there are some simple steps parents can take to prevent or lessen the threat of lead exposure (see sidebar). Even if precautions are taken, children should still be screened at the recommended intervals. Severe poisoning may result in anemia, severe stomachache, muscle weakness, and brain damage. Less-severe and less less-apparent cases of exposure can still affect a child's mental and physical growth, as well as affect cognitive and behavioral development.
Unborn children are also at risk, as they can be exposed to lead through their mothers. Harmful effects may include premature birth, low birth weight, decreased mental growth, and stunted physical growth after birth.
Great effort has been exerted over the past 25 years to remove lead from gasoline, paints, and additional products in the United States. The overall decline in average blood lead levels over that time frame reflects the success of these efforts, but because lead does not break down or decompose from past use, childhood lead poisoning remains a major, preventable health problem today.
For more information on lead poisoning or to find out whether you qualify for free lead-abatement services, contact the Minnesota Department of Health Lead Program (651-215-0890) or Sustainable Resource Center (612-870-4937). For more information on filter paper lead screening, call 1-800-FOR-LEAD. H
Dr. Karla J. Walker, is the director of clinical toxicology at Medtox Laboratories, located in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Preventing lead poisoning: Five simple precautions
1. Keep your home clean. At least once a week, wash areas such as hard surface floors and window sills. Use a solution of water and an all-purpose cleaner.
2. Stay away from peeling paint. Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint and does not chew on painted surfaces such as cribs or window ledges.
3. Leave your shoes at the door. Don't bring dust into your home.
4. Wash regularly. Wash your child's hands often with soap and water, especially before meals, snacks, naps, and bedtime. Wash toys, pacifiers, and bottles often with soap and water. Stuffed toys, in particular, accumulate dust and should be washed often.
5. Eat healthy foods. Have your child eat healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. Less lead is absorbed when children have food in their systems. Feed your child food that is high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C, such as milk, cheese, fish, peanut butter, and raisins. Don't eat serve them too many fried or fatty foods. These foods allow the body to absorb lead faster.
