Facts About Childhood Lead Poisoning

Who can get lead poisoning? 

Anyone can get lead poisoning, but children between the ages of six months and six years of age are at the highest risk because they often put their hands and toys in their mouth.  Hand-to-mouth behavior is the most common way children ingest lead.  Children and adults can also inhale lead particles that may be found in the air. 

How does lead poisoning affect the body?

Increased childhood health problems, such as speech and language delays, hearing problems, kidney damage, seizure, and in rare cases, even death.
Decreased intelligence and ability to learn.
Increased behavior problems.
Increased juvenile delinquency.

What is the most common source of lead exposure?

The most common source of lead is cracking, peeling, chipping or otherwise deteriorating lead-based paint and dust particles.  Lead-based paint on windows, doors and other areas where surfaces rub against each is especially vulnerable to deterioration and may cause lead particles to be released into the environment.   

Are there other sources of lead exposure?

Other potential sources of lead include soil, water, occupations/hobbies (glass staining, pottery),  imported ceramics or foods, and some traditional/folk remedies.

How do I know if my child has lead poisoning?

A lead poisoned child may not look or feel sick.  Children often do not experience any symptoms; therefore having a blood test is the only way to tell if your child is being affected by lead. New York State Department of Health requires that all children ages 1 & 2 receive a blood test and that all children up to the age of six be risk assessed (asked questions relating to the risk of exposure to lead in their environment).   

How do I pay for my child's lead screenings?
Insurance plans and HMOs cover lead tests. The health department provides screening for children not covered by health plans.

What can I do to keep my children safe from lead?

Wash your children's hands and toys often.
Feed your children a diet high in calcium and iron, and low in fat.
Clean windows and other painted surfaces regularly using the wet wipe method. Run your water every morning before you use it.

Are there temporary measures to reduce lead hazards?

Repairing and/or maintaining painted surfaces (primarily windows, exteriors, and trim) will also reduce lead exposure:
Cover chipped paint and holes with contact paper, duct tape, or cardboard.
Clean up lead chips and lead dust with a wet mop or a wet cloth.
Clean your floors and inside windowsills with soap. Then rinse areas well and throw out dish rags and/or towels.

The only way to permanently remove lead hazards is to replace painted surfaces in a lead-safe manner. 

Lead-Safe Home Remodeling / Repair

In Rockland County over 80% of the housing stock was built prior to the ban on lead-based paint in 1978.  Therefore, many of the homes may contain lead-based paint.  If home renovations or repairs are not done using lead-safe methods, they can increase the risk of lead exposure in the home.  There are many ways to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint and it is very important that you pick the safest method for your particular project.

Some people prefer to hire a contractor certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is trained to safely remove lead-based paint.  Other people, prefer to do the work themselves.  Either way, a person hiring a contractor or a person doing the work themselves should become familiar with the measures necessary to safely complete renovations and repairs that involve lead-based paint.

Click on the items and links below to get more information on lead-safe methods for home improvement:
 

Tips for Parents

All few simple things can make a big difference in preventing childhood lead poisoning. 

Environmental Lead Investigations

New York State Department of Health Screening Guidelines

(Statutory Authority:  Public Health Law, Section 206 and Title X of Article 13; Subpart 67-1)

At each routine well-child visit, health care providers will assess children 6 months to 72 months of age for risk of lead exposure and screen or refer for screening those children found to be at risk.
 
During well-child visits at age 1 & 2, health care providers will screen children or refer for screening for elevated blood lead levels. 

Children age 36 to 72 months of age with a history of blood lead levels of 15µg/dL or greater should receive follow-up blood lead testing annually. 

Proof of Lead Screening Required for Child Registration at Daycare or Pre-School

(Statutory Authority:  Public Health Law, Section 206 and Title X of Article 13; Subpart 67-1)
 

Prior to or within 3 months of initial enrollment, each child care provider licensed, certified, or approved by any State or local agency shall obtain a copy of a certificate of lead screening for any child at least 1 year of age but under 6 years of age, and retain such document until one year after the child is no longer enrolled.
 

When no documentation of lead screening exists, the child shall not be excluded from attending preschool or childcare; however, the child care provider, principal, teacher, owner, or person in charge shall provide the parent or guardian of the child with information on lead poisoning and lead poisoning prevention and refer the parent or guardian to the child’s primary health care provider or local health unit to obtain a blood lead test. 

What Does My Child’s Blood Lead Level Mean?

0-9 µg/dL:            

A result in this range is considered safe. The child does not have lead poisoning at this time.  Follow your doctor’s advice for having your child retested at the appropriate time and for preventing lead poisoning.  

10-19 µg/dL:        

A result of 10-19 µg/dL means that the child is being exposed to some source of lead.  You should look for sources of lead in your home and other places where you child spends time.  The Rockland County Department of Health will contact you by mail or phone to discuss how you can reduce your child’s blood lead level.  Your child should be retested in 3-4 months.  If you have any questions, talk to your doctor or call the Rockland County Department of Health at (845) 364-3611.

20 µg/dL and higher:

This result means that the child may have lead poisoning. The longer children have lead in their blood and the higher the level, the more serious their condition.  Your child’s doctor will do a complete medical evaluation of your child.  Depending on the blood lead level and the evaluation results, the doctor will begin treating your child immediately with medicine and/or supplements to help get rid of the lead.  This may require hospitalization.  A representative from the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will visit your home and/or other places your child spends time in to help you identify the source of lead and advise you on how to reduce exposure.  Your child should be retested every 1-2 months until his/her level falls below 20µg/dL. 

What Can I Do To Prevent Lead Poisoning?

Hand Washing

Deteriorating lead-based paint often produces dust that settles on window sills, floors, toys or other surface areas that children usually have contact with.    Since children tend to put their hands and toys in their mouth and often eat with their hands (“finger foods”), swallowing lead dust is the most common exposure route.  Wash you child’s hands and face often, especially before meals and before going to bed in order to reduce or remove lead dust before it is ingested.  Also wash your child’s toys and pacifiers often.   

Nutrition

A child with an empty stomach will absorb more lead; therefore, it is very important to feed your child frequent and nutritionally balanced meals.  There are several nutrients that can help reduce the absorption of lead.     

Iron  -  Children who are iron-deficient (anemic) tend to absorb more lead because their bodies absorb the lead to make up for the lack of iron.  Consuming foods rich in iron can significantly reduce the amount of lead absorbed by a child’s body.
Some example of foods rich in iron are:

Vitamin C  -  Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.  Some examples of foods rich in vitamin C are:

Calcium  -  Foods rich in calcium will also reduce the amount of lead absorbed by a child’s body.  Having enough calcium to support growth and other developmental functions will prevent lead from settling in bones.  Some examples of foods rich in calcium are:

Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Milk Shakes, Green Leafy Vegetables (Spinach, Collards)

Low-fat foods  -  Foods high in fat increase the amount of lead absorbed by the body.  Children need some fat, such as the fat found in milk, cheese, or yogurt, but other added fats such as fat from fast foods, fried foods, or “junk” food may increase the amount of lead absorbed by the body.  Parents should try to limit the amount of added fat that a child consumes.  Some food to limit include:

Any Fried or Greasy Food

Bacon Biscuits, Bologna, Chocolate Bars or Candies, Cookies, Corn Chips, Doughnuts, French Fries, Hot Dogs, Sausages, Sausage links, Sausage Patties, Potato Chips

Cleaning Your Way to a Lead-Safe Home!

Regularly cleaning surfaces that are painted with lead-base paint is the best way to reduce a child’s exposure to lead in the home.  However, it is very important to remember that common cleaning methods such as dusting or sweeping can actually increase the amount of lead dust in household air.  When cleaning any painted surface, make sure you use the following methods to safely remove lead:  

Windows

You will need: 2 buckets, Paper towels, 2 rags or sponges, all purpose detergent, 1 plastic trash bag

Floors, Baseboards, and Other Painted Surfaces

You will need: 2 buckets, 2 mop heads, 2 sponges or rags, paper towels, all purpose detergent