(Madison County, NY – Oct. 015) Hundreds of thousands of children living in the United States have elevated blood lead levels that may cause significant damage to their health. They can develop behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems, and aggressive patterns of behavior. Stopping a child’s exposure to lead from leaded paint, house dust, or any other source is the best way to prevent the harmful effects of lead.
To raise awareness of the consequences of lead poisoning among parents and pregnant women who live in homes built before 1978, the Madison County Health Department is participating in National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) Oct. 25-31. This year’s NLPPW theme, “Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,” underscores the importance of testing your home, testing your child, and learning how to prevent lead poisoning’s serious health effects.
First, it is important to make sure your child gets tested for lead at age 1 and 2 years old. This blood test must be ordered by your child’s doctor or healthcare provider. If the doctor’s office does not have the ability to collect the blood, then the blood will need to be taken at a lab. Even if you find the one year blood test was at an acceptable level, do not skip the second year blood test. The blood test is a snapshot in time, and it is important to capture the blood lead level at both ages 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. 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 before we knew just how dangerous it was. A law was then passed to remove lead from household paint. Yet it still exists in older homes. When a home is repaired or renovated, lead paint can peel, chip, or flake from sanding and scraping. An old window opening and closing can also create dust that you can’t even see, which 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.
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.
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 behavior problems.
In fact, new research has shown that even low blood lead levels can affect children’s behaviors. A study published in the June 2014 Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics found that children ages 3-5 with an average of 6.4 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood were more likely to have issues with anxiety, emotion, and delayed social skills. They were more likely to be emotionally reactive and showed pervasive development problems, such as avoiding eye contact, being withdrawn, and showing little affection.
The local health department receives the blood lead levels of all children tested and is required by the New York State Department of Health to contact the child’s parent or guardian when the child’s blood level is 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter or above. However, In Madison County, the County Health Department takes action when a child has a blood level of 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter or above.
Cheryl Geiler, Director of Community Health said,“We take action sooner because we know that even low levels of lead in the blood can seriously affect children’s health, so we offer the family a home visit and education on how to reduce the risk of lead poisoning, before it even reaches a level of 10.”
Lead is a toxin found in our environment. It does not belong in our blood, and 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 check-ups, 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. 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 315-366-2848 or visit www.healthymadisoncounty.org.