Madison County Health Department news
(Wampsville, NY) Do you have a child under six years old in your life? If you do, it’s important to know how to protect that child from lead poisoning. First, make sure your child gets tested for lead at age one and two years old. Second, know where lead can be found indoors and out and make sure children are not getting lead on their hands, in their mouths or breathing it in.
While anyone can become lead poisoned, children are especially at risk because their bodies absorb lead more easily than adults. They are also more likely to put things in their mouth that have lead in them, such as chipped paint, or toys and jewelry that contain lead.
The most common cause of lead poisoning is lead-based paint dust from older window frames, doors and trim, or walls. Lead paint was used in homes built before 1978, after which a law was passed to remove it from household paint. When a home is repaired or renovated, lead paint can peel, chip, or flake from sanding and scraping. Dust that you can’t even see can be breathed in, causing lead poisoning. Lead dust can also settle on the child’s toys or get on his hands, which he may put in his mouth.
Why is lead poisoning so serious for children? Too much lead in the body can cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. This can lead to problems with learning and paying attention, slow their growth and development, cause hearing and speech problems, and lead to aggressive behavior.
There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. And because most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick, it is important to screen children who are six months to six years old for lead. Screening should be done at all checkups, or at least annually. The screening will let you and your doctor know if your child needs to be tested for lead at times other than the usual one and two years old. Talk to your doctor about lead screening and testing.
Children can be exposed to lead in many ways, from the toys they play with and the dirt in the yard they play in to the water they drink. Testing for lead helps ensure your child’s health now and in the future.
For more information on protecting children from lead poisoning, call the Madison County Health Department at 315.366.2361 or visit www.healthymadisoncounty.org.