Protect Your Kids from Lead Poisoning

A child’s health can be complex. While some illnesses are more obvious and unavoidable, like the common cold, others have more dangerous effects that can lurk beneath the surface and can have far greater an impact than any cough or runny nose.

A child's environment can be full of lead. Children can be exposed to lead from different sources (such as paint, gasoline, solder, and consumer products) and through different pathways (such as air, food, water, dust and soil.) Although there are several exposure sources, lead-based paint is the most widespread and dangerous high-dose source of lead exposure for young children. 

Where is it?

Lead-based paint is a primary source of lead exposure for children. Although new paint doesn’t contain lead, homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint applied before regulations were put into place. Experts estimate that around 38 million homes in the United States have lead-based paint hazards. Children can get lead poisoning if they put paint chips into their mouths.

Water can sometimes become contaminated as well. This can be a significant problem considering that Americans drink over one billion cups of water each day. Sometimes lead can get into water from older fixtures, lead pipes, or from water pipes themselves. Just like lead-based paint, lead contaminated water is dangerous and can cause serious health issues.

What You Need to Know and What You Can Do

Lead poisoning is avoidable if the proper testing is done and precautions are taken. If you suspect that you have lead paint in your home, wash your and your children's hands be-fore eating. Also, wash bottles, pacifiers, and toys often. Floors and windowsills should be cleaned and washed frequently to protect children from dust and peeling paint contaminated with lead.

The only way to know if there is lead in your water is to have your water tested. As a precaution, you should run cold water for at least 30 seconds to flush lead from pipes.

You can learn other tips by clicking on the additional resources listed below.

National Healthy Homes Conference

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) 2016 Annual Education Conference (AEC) and National Healthy Homes Conference will be held jointly in San Antonio, Texas, from June 13-16, 2016. Building on the success of the 2014 National Healthy Homes Conference in Nashville, the joint conference will be the most comprehensive annual gathering of public, nonprofit, and private entities working in environmental health, housing and other professions dedicated to improving the health and safety of homes and communities. If you are an environmental health or housing professional looking to network and get an even greater understanding of the breakthroughs and challenges in healthy housing, this is the conference for you!