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AUGUSTA — Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems, particularly in young kids. Children are at greater risk of lead poisoning because they often put their hands and toys in their mouths. This makes it very easy for lead dust to get into and damage their growing bodies, according to Healthy Communities of the Capital Area.
Each year in the U.S., thousands of young kids are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016 more than 88,000 children under age six were identified with lead poisoning.
While it’s scary to think about, it’s important to know how serious the effects of lead poisoning are. Even low levels of lead can harm children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause:
* Learning disabilities, attention-deficit disorder, and lower intelligence
* Decreased bone and muscle growth and poor muscle coordination
* Damage to the nervous system, kidneys and/or hearing
* Speech, language and behavior problems
* Developmental delay
Where does the lead come from?
Most commonly in Maine, kids get lead poisoning from the dust from lead-based paint, which was used in many U.S. homes until the late 1970s. Most often, dust from lead-based paint is found in homes built before 1950. That’s why kids who live in older homes and apartments are at greater risk for lead poisoning. Also at risk are kids who emigrate from a foreign country that does not regulate the use of lead.
Lead dust come from lead-based paint that is scraped, sanded or heated during renovations or repairs, and also when surfaces containing lead-based paint bang or rub together. This usually occurs on windows and window sills, doors and door frames, stairs, railings, banisters and porches.
Protect your kids
The good news is you can protect your kids from lead poisoning. Talk to your doctor about potential lead sources in your home or anywhere your kids spend long periods of time, especially if they’re younger than 3 years old.
1. Find out if you have lead dust in your home. Request a free lead dust test kit at: www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/eohp/lead/lead-kit-request.html.
2. Get your kids tested. A simple blood test is the only way to find out if children already have lead in their bodies. Lead is especially dangerous to children under six years old. Tests are required at ages one and two for children enrolled in MaineCare and for all other children unless your doctor determines a child is not at risk. Younger children spend a lot of time on the floor and put their hands and toys in their mouths. Most children with lead poisoning don’t look or act sick, so it’s really important to get them tested.
Reduce the risk of lead exposure
1. Check the paint in your home. Look for chipping or peeling paint and water damage. Keep children away from these areas.
2. Keep your home and kids clean by washing your kids’ hands and toys often and keep window sills and floors clean with a wet cloth or mop. Lead dust is not always visible.
3. Throw away food that falls on the floor, and wash pacifiers and bottles if they fall on the floor.
4. Good nutrition can reduce the amount of lead that’s absorbed into kids’ bodies. Serving four to six small meals is helpful because lead is more readily absorbed on an empty stomach. A low fat diet that’s high in calcium, iron and vitamin C helps to reduce lead absorption as well.
Learn more about preventing lead poisoning.
Contact Christine Canty Brooks, Lead Poisoning Prevention, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, at 207-588-5342 or c.cantybrooks@hccame.org.
