Lead Poisoning in Children

Lead Poisoning in Lead Poisoning in ChildrenChildren

Information and PreventionInformation and Prevention

June 2008

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

Recognize the dangers of lead Recognize the dangers of lead exposureexposure

Identify sources of leadIdentify sources of lead Recognize the dangers of lead Recognize the dangers of lead

exposureexposure Identify signs and symptoms of Identify signs and symptoms of

children who have been exposed to children who have been exposed to leadlead

Identify ways to prevent lead Identify ways to prevent lead poisoningpoisoning

Recognize ways lead poisoning is Recognize ways lead poisoning is treatedtreated

Lead PoisoningLead Poisoning

According to the Centers for Disease According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 310,000 U.S. children Control (CDC), 310,000 U.S. children ages 1-5 have high blood lead levels. ages 1-5 have high blood lead levels. These levels are high enough for the These levels are high enough for the CDC to recommend public health CDC to recommend public health actions. actions.

Lead poisoning can cause learning Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death. coma, and even death.

Sources of LeadSources of Lead Older and deteriorating buildings are Older and deteriorating buildings are

a leading source of lead paint. a leading source of lead paint. Even though paint containing lead Even though paint containing lead

was banned in 1978, approximately was banned in 1978, approximately 24 million homes in the United States 24 million homes in the United States have deteriorated lead paint and have deteriorated lead paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. At least 4 million of house dust. At least 4 million of these homes have young children these homes have young children living in them.living in them.

(CDC, 2008)(CDC, 2008)

Another source of lead is contaminated Another source of lead is contaminated soil which can be found near busy streets. soil which can be found near busy streets. Lead used to be an ingredient in gasoline. Lead used to be an ingredient in gasoline. Homes painted with lead-based paint may Homes painted with lead-based paint may also have contaminated soil. also have contaminated soil.

Drinking water may be contaminated with Drinking water may be contaminated with lead as water flows through old lead pipes lead as water flows through old lead pipes or faucets, or if the pipes begin to break or faucets, or if the pipes begin to break down.down.

Some toys, jewelry, hobby and sports Some toys, jewelry, hobby and sports objects (like stained glass, ink, paint and objects (like stained glass, ink, paint and plaster) may contain lead. plaster) may contain lead.

(Kids Health)(Kids Health)

Food stored in bowls glazed or Food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead, or imported from painted with lead, or imported from countries that use lead to seal countries that use lead to seal canned food can be another source canned food can be another source of lead. of lead.

Those who make or recycle Those who make or recycle automobile batteries may be automobile batteries may be exposed to lead. exposed to lead.

Home health remedies, such as Home health remedies, such as azarcon and greta, can contain lead. azarcon and greta, can contain lead.

(CDC, Kids Health)(CDC, Kids Health)

Children At RiskChildren At Risk

Children under the age of 6 years are Children under the age of 6 years are at the greatest risk. They grow so at the greatest risk. They grow so rapidly and tend to put their hands or rapidly and tend to put their hands or other objects into their mouths. other objects into their mouths.

Children living in older housing are at Children living in older housing are at greater risk than children living in greater risk than children living in newer homes. newer homes.

Dangers of Lead ExposureDangers of Lead Exposure Children can be exposed to lead through Children can be exposed to lead through

inhaling it, swallowing it and in some inhaling it, swallowing it and in some cases, it can be absorbed into the skin. cases, it can be absorbed into the skin.

Once lead is in a child’s system, it is Once lead is in a child’s system, it is distributed through the body like helpful distributed through the body like helpful minerals such as zinc and iron. minerals such as zinc and iron.

If lead is in the bloodstream, it can cause If lead is in the bloodstream, it can cause damage to red blood cells and limit their damage to red blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen to organs and ability to carry oxygen to organs and tissue. tissue.


Effects of Long Term Lead Effects of Long Term Lead ExposureExposure

Developmental DelaysDevelopmental Delays Speech and Language ProblemsSpeech and Language Problems Poor Muscle CoordinationPoor Muscle Coordination Damage to the nervous system, Damage to the nervous system,

kidneys and hearingkidneys and hearing Decreased bone and muscle growthDecreased bone and muscle growth Seizures and unconsciousnessSeizures and unconsciousness


Signs and Symptoms of Lead Signs and Symptoms of Lead PoisoningPoisoning

HeadachesHeadaches Stomachaches, abdominal painStomachaches, abdominal pain Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite Vomiting or nauseaVomiting or nausea ConstipationConstipation SeizuresSeizures Weight loss Weight loss

Sluggishness or fatigue Sluggishness or fatigue Pallor (pale skin) from anemia (lower Pallor (pale skin) from anemia (lower

than normal red blood cells) than normal red blood cells) Metallic taste in mouth Metallic taste in mouth Muscle and joint weakness or painMuscle and joint weakness or pain Irritability or behavioral problems Irritability or behavioral problems Pica (eating of non-nutritious things Pica (eating of non-nutritious things

such as dirt and paint chips) such as dirt and paint chips)


Preventing Lead PoisoningPreventing Lead Poisoning The Centers for Disease Control The Centers for Disease Control

suggest the following guidelines:suggest the following guidelines:• Parents should ask a doctor to test their Parents should ask a doctor to test their

child, if there is concern about children child, if there is concern about children being exposed to lead. being exposed to lead.

• If you live in a house or apartment built If you live in a house or apartment built before 1978, talk to your state or local before 1978, talk to your state or local health department about testing paint health department about testing paint and dust from your home for lead. This and dust from your home for lead. This is especially important if young children is especially important if young children live with you or visit you. live with you or visit you.

• Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, and frequently wash a child’s hands, and frequently wash a child’s hands, pacifiers and toys to reduce exposure pacifiers and toys to reduce exposure to lead. to lead.

• Use only cold water from the tap for Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking and for making baby drinking, cooking and for making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Most of contain higher levels of lead. Most of the lead found in household water the lead found in household water usually comes from the plumbing in a usually comes from the plumbing in a house, not from the local water supply. house, not from the local water supply.

• Avoid using home remedies (such as Avoid using home remedies (such as azarcon, greta, pay-loo-ah) and azarcon, greta, pay-loo-ah) and cosmetics (such as kohl, alkohl) that cosmetics (such as kohl, alkohl) that contain lead.contain lead.

• Take basic steps to decrease your Take basic steps to decrease your exposure to lead (for example, by exposure to lead (for example, by showering and changing clothes after showering and changing clothes after finishing the task), if you remodel finishing the task), if you remodel buildings built before 1978, or if your buildings built before 1978, or if your work or hobbies involve working with work or hobbies involve working with lead-based products. lead-based products.

More Ways to Prevent Lead More Ways to Prevent Lead PoisoningPoisoning

The Mayo Clinic suggests having a The Mayo Clinic suggests having a comprehensive home inspection consisting comprehensive home inspection consisting of a lead inspection and a risk assessment of a lead inspection and a risk assessment done. done. • A lead inspection checks for lead presence in A lead inspection checks for lead presence in

painted surfaces in a home, but it doesn't painted surfaces in a home, but it doesn't determine whether the paint has dangerous determine whether the paint has dangerous levels of lead. levels of lead.

• A risk assessment is more comprehensive and A risk assessment is more comprehensive and tells you if your home contains dangerous lead tells you if your home contains dangerous lead sources, such as peeling paint, and tells you sources, such as peeling paint, and tells you how to reduce or control the hazards. how to reduce or control the hazards.

If you live in or in an area prone to If you live in or in an area prone to lead make sure to do the followinglead make sure to do the following: : • Wash your children's hands after they Wash your children's hands after they

play outside, before eating and going to play outside, before eating and going to bed. bed.

• Clean your floors with a wet mop and Clean your floors with a wet mop and wipe furniture, windowsills and other wipe furniture, windowsills and other dusty surfaces with a damp cloth. dusty surfaces with a damp cloth.

• Restrict where your children play. Don't Restrict where your children play. Don't let them play near major roadways or let them play near major roadways or bridges. bridges.

• Prepare meals that are high in iron and Prepare meals that are high in iron and calcium. A nutritious diet helps prevent calcium. A nutritious diet helps prevent lead absorption in your children's lead absorption in your children's bodies. bodies.

• Run cold water for at least a minute Run cold water for at least a minute before using, especially if it hasn't been before using, especially if it hasn't been used for a while. Don't use hot tap water used for a while. Don't use hot tap water to make baby formula or for cooking. to make baby formula or for cooking.

How Is Lead Poisoning Treated?How Is Lead Poisoning Treated? According to Kids Health, lead According to Kids Health, lead

poisoning is treated depending on poisoning is treated depending on how much lead is in the blood. Some how much lead is in the blood. Some children require hospitalization to children require hospitalization to receive a medication called a receive a medication called a chelating agent. This medication chelating agent. This medication chemically binds with lead, through chemically binds with lead, through an IV to make the lead weaker so the an IV to make the lead weaker so the body can get rid of it naturally. This body can get rid of it naturally. This is for children with both severe and is for children with both severe and high levels of lead. high levels of lead.

Siblings of children with lead in their Siblings of children with lead in their bodies will also be tested. bodies will also be tested.

Therapies are used with children who Therapies are used with children who have small amounts of lead present, have small amounts of lead present, in order to allow the body to in order to allow the body to naturally eliminate the lead. naturally eliminate the lead.

For More Information, Visit these For More Information, Visit these Web Sites:Web Sites:

Kids Health.org, Kids Health.org, http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/mehttp://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/lead_poisoning.htmldical/brain/lead_poisoning.html

Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lehttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lead-poisoning/FL00068/DSECTION=8ad-poisoning/FL00068/DSECTION=8

Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control,

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

Missouri Department of Health and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Senior Services, http://www.dhss.mo.gov/ChildhoodLehttp://www.dhss.mo.gov/ChildhoodLead/Guidelines.htmlad/Guidelines.html

American Academy of Family American Academy of Family Physicians, Physicians, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000801/5http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000801/559ph.html59ph.html

Missouri Department of Social Missouri Department of Social Services Services

State Technical Assistance TeamState Technical Assistance TeamAddress:Address:

PO Box 208PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO Jefferson City, MO 65102-020865102-0208

Telephone: Telephone: (573) 751-5980(573) 751-5980(800) 487-1626(800) 487-1626(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday – Friday) Monday – Friday)

Email:Email:

[email protected]@dss.mo.gov

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Lead Poisoning in Children