Lead Poisoning in Children

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Lead Poisoning in Children

• Information and Prevention

June 2008
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Training Objectives

• Recognize the dangers of lead exposure
• Identify sources of lead
• Recognize the dangers of lead exposure
• Identify signs and symptoms of children who have
  been exposed to lead

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• Identify ways to prevent lead poisoning
• Recognize ways lead poisoning is treated

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Lead Poisoning

• According to the Centers for Disease Control
  (CDC), 310,000 U.S. children ages 1-5 have high
  blood lead levels. These levels are high enough
  for the CDC to recommend public health actions.
• Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities,
  behavioral problems, and, at very high levels,
  seizures, coma, and even death.

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Sources of Lead

• Older and deteriorating buildings are a leading
  source of lead paint.
• Even though paint containing lead was banned in
  1978, approximately 24 million homes in the
  United States have deteriorated lead paint and
  elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust.
  At least 4 million of these homes have young
  children living in them.
• (CDC, 2008)

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• Another source of lead is contaminated soil which
  can be found near busy streets. Lead used to be
  an ingredient in gasoline. Homes painted with
  lead-based paint may also have contaminated soil.
  
• Drinking water may be contaminated with lead as
  water flows through old lead pipes or faucets, or
  if the pipes begin to break down.
• Some toys, jewelry, hobby and sports objects
  (like stained glass, ink, paint and plaster) may
  contain lead.
• (Kids Health)

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• Food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead,
  or imported from countries that use lead to seal
  canned food can be another source of lead.
• Those who make or recycle automobile batteries
  may be exposed to lead.
• Home health remedies, such as azarcon and greta,
  can contain lead.
• (CDC, Kids Health)

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Children At Risk

• Children under the age of 6 years are at the
  greatest risk. They grow so rapidly and tend to
  put their hands or other objects into their
  mouths.
• Children living in older housing are at greater
  risk than children living in newer homes.

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Dangers of Lead Exposure

• Children can be exposed to lead through inhaling
  it, swallowing it and in some cases, it can be
  absorbed into the skin.
• Once lead is in a childs system, it is
  distributed through the body like helpful
  minerals such as zinc and iron.
• If lead is in the bloodstream, it can cause
  damage to red blood cells and limit their ability
  to carry oxygen to organs and tissue.
• (Kids Health)

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Effects of Long Term Lead Exposure

• Developmental Delays
• Speech and Language Problems
• Poor Muscle Coordination
• Damage to the nervous system, kidneys and hearing
• Decreased bone and muscle growth
• Seizures and unconsciousness
• (Kids Health)

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Signs and Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

• Headaches
• Stomachaches, abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting or nausea
• Constipation
• Seizures
• Weight loss

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• Sluggishness or fatigue
• Pallor (pale skin) from anemia (lower than normal
  red blood cells)
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Muscle and joint weakness or pain
• Irritability or behavioral problems
• Pica (eating of non-nutritious things such as
  dirt and paint chips)
• (Kids Health)

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Preventing Lead Poisoning

• The Centers for Disease Control suggest the
  following guidelines
• Parents should ask a doctor to test their child,
  if there is concern about children being exposed
  to lead.
• If you live in a house or apartment built before
  1978, talk to your state or local health
  department about testing paint and dust from your
  home for lead. This is especially important if
  young children live with you or visit you.

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• Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, and
  frequently wash a childs hands, pacifiers and
  toys to reduce exposure to lead.
• Use only cold water from the tap for drinking,
  cooking and for making baby formula. Hot water is
  more likely to contain higher levels of lead.
  Most of the lead found in household water usually
  comes from the plumbing in a house, not from the
  local water supply.

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• Avoid using home remedies (such as azarcon,
  greta, pay-loo-ah) and cosmetics (such as kohl,
  alkohl) that contain lead.
• Take basic steps to decrease your exposure to
  lead (for example, by showering and changing
  clothes after finishing the task), if you remodel
  buildings built before 1978, or if your work or
  hobbies involve working with lead-based products.
  

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More Ways to Prevent Lead Poisoning

• The Mayo Clinic suggests having a comprehensive
  home inspection consisting of a lead inspection
  and a risk assessment done.
• A lead inspection checks for lead presence in
  painted surfaces in a home, but it doesn't
  determine whether the paint has dangerous levels
  of lead.
• A risk assessment is more comprehensive and tells
  you if your home contains dangerous lead sources,
  such as peeling paint, and tells you how to
  reduce or control the hazards.

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• If you live in or in an area prone to lead make
  sure to do the following
• Wash your children's hands after they play
  outside, before eating and going to bed.
• Clean your floors with a wet mop and wipe
  furniture, windowsills and other dusty surfaces
  with a damp cloth.
• Restrict where your children play. Don't let them
  play near major roadways or bridges.

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• Prepare meals that are high in iron and calcium.
  A nutritious diet helps prevent lead absorption
  in your children's bodies.
• Run cold water for at least a minute before
  using, especially if it hasn't been used for a
  while. Don't use hot tap water to make baby
  formula or for cooking.

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How Is Lead Poisoning Treated?

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

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• Siblings of children with lead in their bodies
  will also be tested.
• Therapies are used with children who have small
  amounts of lead present, in order to allow the
  body to naturally eliminate the lead.

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For More Information, Visit these Web Sites

• Kids Health.org, http//www.kidshealth.org/parent/
  medical/brain/lead_poisoning.html
• Mayo Clinic, http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/lead
  -poisoning/FL00068/DSECTION8
• Centers for Disease Control,
• http//www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

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• Missouri Department of Health and Senior
  Services, http//www.dhss.mo.gov/ChildhoodLead/Gui
  delines.html
• American Academy of Family Physicians,
  http//www.aafp.org/afp/20000801/559ph.html

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Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team

• Address
• PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
• Telephone [phone](800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
  to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
• Email
• dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov