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Facts about Childhood Lead Poisoning
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Who can get Lead Poisoning?
Anyone can get lead poisoning,
but children between the ages of six months and six
years of age are at the highest risk because they
often put their hands and toys in their mouth.
Hand-to-mouth behavior is the most common way children
ingest lead. Children and adults can also inhale lead
particles that may be found in the air.
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What are the
health effects of lead poisoning in children?
Lead interferes with the brain’s development and function. It also
can cause serious damage to the kidneys, liver and red blood cells.
Children are in more danger than adults because their bodies are
still developing. Lead poisoning can cause:
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Slowed
Development
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Learning or Behavior Problems
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Lower IQ
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Hearing Loss
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Restlessness
What are the symptoms of
lead poisoning?
The only way to tell if someone is lead poisoned is by doing a blood
test. New York State Department of Health requires that all
children ages 1 and 2 receive a blood test and that parents
of children up to the age of six be asked a series of questions
to find out if they have a risk of being exposed to lead in their
environment.
Risk Assessment Questionnaire
Recent research finds that there is no safe level of
lead in the blood. Children often do not look or feel sick when
blood lead levels are low. At high levels, symptoms include:
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Headaches
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Stomach Aches
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Nausea
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Tiredness
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Irritability
A child with these symptoms may appear to have the flu or a virus.
The only way to tell if a child is poisoned is by doing a blood lead
test.
What is the most common source of lead exposure?
The most common source of lead is cracking, peeling,
chipping or otherwise deteriorating lead-based paint and
dust particles. Lead-based paint on windows, doors and
other areas where surfaces rub against each other create
dust and may cause lead particles to be released into the
environment. |
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Are there other sources of lead exposure?
Other potential sources of lead include soil, water,
occupations/hobbies...
Sources of Lead
Imported ceramics or foods, and some
traditional/folk remedies...
Ethnic
Spices, Herbs, etc.
Imported children’s furniture, toys, jewelry (made in countries
outside of the U.S.) may also contain lead. See Product Recalls on
the following website:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/lead/recalls/
How do I pay for my child's lead screenings (the word screening in
this document means a blood lead level test)?
Insurance plans and HMOs cover lead tests. The health department
provides screening for children not covered by health plans. |
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What can I do to keep my Children
Safe
from Lead?
Fix peeling lead paint and make home repairs safely
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Keep children away from peeling or chipped paint.
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Before making repairs in a home built before 1978, call your
local health department to learn how to work safely and keep
dust levels down.
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Children and pregnant women should stay away from repairs that
disturb old paint, such as sanding and scraping. They should
stay away until the area is cleaned using wet cleaning methods
and a HEPA vacuum (not dry sweeping).
Hand Washing
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Deteriorating lead-based paint often produces dust that settles
on windowsills, floors, toys or other surface areas that
children touch. Since children tend to put their hands and toys
in their mouth and often eat with their hands (“finger foods”),
swallowing or inhaling lead dust is the most common exposure
route.
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Wash your child's hands and face after play, before meals, and
before bed.
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Wash toys, stuffed animals, pacifiers and bottles with soap and
water often.
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Mop floors often, and use damp paper towels to clean window
wells and sills.
Nutrition
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Children with empty stomachs absorb more lead than children with
full stomachs, so providing your child with four to six small,
nutritional meals during the day can also help protect against
lead poisoning. There are several nutrients that can help reduce
the absorption of lead.
Iron
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Children who are iron-deficient (anemic) tend to absorb more lead
because their bodies absorb the lead to make up for the lack of
iron. Consuming foods rich in iron can significantly reduce the
amount of lead stored in a child’s body.
Some example of foods rich in iron are:
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Breads & Cereals |
Cereals which provide 45% or more US Recommended Daily
Allowance of Iron (read the label - all WIC cereals are high
in iron), Whole Wheat Bread, Enriched Breads, Enriched
Noodles, Macaroni, Spaghetti, Enriched Rice |
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Fruits & Vegetables |
Potatoes, Bananas, Watermelon, Sweet
Potatoes, Dried Fruit, Raisins, (Caution - may cause choking
in small children) Broccoli, Winter Squash, Prunes, Prune
Juice, Spinach, Greens (collard greens, mustard greens) |
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Protein-Rich Foods |
Lean Meats (Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Pork, Liver), Fish (Tuna,
Salmon), Peanut Butter, Dried Peas and Beans, Nuts and
Seeds, Tofu |
Vitamin C -
Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Some examples of foods rich
in vitamin C are:
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Fruits & Vegetables |
Grapefruit, Grapefruit Juice, Tomatoes, Tomato Juice,
Oranges, Orange Juice, Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Green
Peppers, Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, Potatoes, Spinach, Broccoli,
Cabbage, Pineapple, Cole Slaw, Raspberries, Cauliflower,
Strawberries, Watermelon, WIC Juices |
Calcium -
Foods rich in calcium will also reduce the amount of lead absorbed
by a child’s body. Having enough calcium to support growth and
other developmental functions will prevent lead from settling in
bones. Some examples of foods rich in calcium are:
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Dairy Products |
Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Milk Shakes |
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Green Leafy Vegetables |
Spinach, Collards |
Low-Fat Foods -
Foods high in fat increase the amount of lead absorbed by the body.
Children need some fat, such as the fat found in milk, cheese, or
yogurt, but other added fats such as fat from fast foods, fried
foods, or “junk” food may increase the amount of lead absorbed by
the body. Parents should try to limit the amount of added fat that
a child consumes. Some foods to limit include:
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Any Fried or Greasy Food
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Bacon, Biscuits, Bologna, Chocolate Bars or
Candies, Cookies, Corn Chips, Doughnuts, French Fries, Hot
Dogs, Sausages, Sausage links, Sausage Patties, Potato Chips |
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Are There
Temporary
Measures to Prevent Lead Hazards? |
Repairing and/or maintaining painted surfaces (primarily windows,
exteriors, and trim) will also reduce lead exposure:
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Cover chipped paint and holes with contact paper,
duct tape, or cardboard.
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Clean up lead chips and lead dust with a wet mop
or a wet cloth.
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Clean your floors and inside windowsills with
soap. Then rinse areas well and throw dishrags and/or towels
away.
The only way to permanently remove lead hazards is to replace
painted surfaces in a lead-safe manner.
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Lead-Safe Home Remodeling / Repair |
In Rockland
County over 80% of the homes were built prior to the ban on
lead-based paint in 1978. Therefore, many of the homes may contain
lead-based paint. If home renovations or repairs are not done using
lead-safe methods, they can increase the risk of lead exposure in
the home. There are many ways to reduce the hazards of lead-based
paint and it is very important that you pick the safest method for
your particular project.
Some people prefer to hire a contractor certified by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is trained to safely
remove lead-based paint. Other people prefer to do the work
themselves. Either way, a person hiring a contractor or a person
doing the work themselves should become familiar with the measures
necessary to safely complete renovations and repairs that involve
lead-based paint. Valuable resources about lead-safe methods of home
improvement are available by clicking on the links below:
Renovate
Right: Important lead hazard information for families, childcare
providers and schools
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
Steps
to Renovation, Repair and Painting
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/steps.pdf
Lead Paint Safety: A field guide for painting, home maintenance, and
renovation work
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadsafetybk.pdf
New York State Department of Health
http://www.health.state.ny.us/forms/order_forms/lead.pdf
www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/lead/index.htm
www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/environ/reducing_environ_exposures.htm
What
Home Owners Need to Know About Removing Lead-Based Paint
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/lead/leadbroc.htm
You can also call the Department of Health (845) 364-2501 for
information and suggestions on lead-safe methods of home
improvement. |
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Environmental Lead Investigations |
The Bureau of Housing and the Bureau of Special Services of
the Rockland County Department of Health will conduct
environmental lead investigations for children whose blood
lead levels are equal to or greater than 15 μg/dL in an
effort to identify the source of lead exposure. A Housing
Inspector/Lead Assessor investigates a child’s home and/or
other places where the child spends time. Environmental
investigations may consist of visual assessment of risk
areas, surface paint evaluation, water sampling, and/or
other case-specific actions.
Based on the results of the environmental lead
investigation, the Housing Inspector/Lead Assessor will
provide the owner or landlord with recommendations on how to
address lead hazards in the home. |
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New York State Department of Health Screening Guidelines
(Statutory Authority: Public Health Law, Section 206 and
Title X of Article 13; Subpart 67-1) |
At
each routine well-child visit, health care providers will
assess children 6 months to 72 months of age for risk of
lead exposure and screen or refer for screening those
children found to be at risk.
During well-child visits at age 1 & 2, health care providers
will screen children or refer them for screening for
elevated blood lead levels.
Children age 36 to 72 months of age with a history of blood
lead levels of 15µg/dL or greater should receive follow-up
blood lead testing annually. |
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Proof of Lead Screening Required for Children Registering at
Daycare or Pre-School
http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/2517.pdf
(Statutory
Authority: Public Health Law, Section 206 and Title X of
Article 13; Subpart 67-1) |
Prior to or within 3 months of initial enrollment, each
child care provider licensed, certified, or approved by any
State or local agency shall obtain a copy of a certificate
of lead screening for any child at least 1 year of age but
under 6 years of age, and retain such document until one
year after the child is no longer enrolled.
When no documentation of lead screening exists, the child
shall not be excluded from attending preschool or childcare;
however, the child care provider, principal, teacher, owner,
or person in charge shall provide the parent or guardian of
the child with information on lead poisoning and lead
poisoning prevention and refer the parent or guardian to the
child’s primary health care provider or local health unit to
obtain a blood lead test. |
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What Does Your Child's Blood Lead Level (BLL) Mean? |
The blood lead test tells
you how much lead is in your child’s blood. Lead can harm a
child’s growth, behavior and ability to learn. The lower
the test result, the better.
Most lead poisoning occurs when children lick, swallow, or
breathe in dust from old lead paint. Most homes built
before 1978 have old lead paint, often under newer paint. If
paint peels, cracks, or is worn down, the chips and dust
from the old lead paint can spread onto floors, windowsills
and all around your home. Lead paint dust can then get onto
children's hands and toys, and into their mouths.
Most children have had some contact with lead in old paint,
soil, plumbing, or another source. This is why New York
State requires doctors to test all children with a blood
lead test at age
1 and again at age
2. For children up to age six, your doctor or
nurse should ask you at every well child visit about ways
your child may have had contact with lead. Children who have
had contact with lead should be tested.
A test result greater or equal to 8 μg/dL using blood from a
fingertip should be checked again with a second test using
blood taken from a vein (often in the arm). If the second
result is still high, you should follow the steps below. |
0-4 µg/dL:
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There is very little lead in your child’s blood.
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The average lead test result for young children is about
2 μg/dL.
5-9 µg/dL:
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Your child has a little more lead than most children
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Talk with your doctor and local health department to
find out how your child might have come into contact
with lead, and ways to protect your child.
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Your doctor might want to test your child again in 3 to
6 months.
10-14 µg/dL:
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Your child’s lead level is high. A result of 10 or
higher requires action.
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Your doctor and local health department will talk with
you to help you find sources of lead, and ways you can
protect your child.
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Your child should be tested again in 1 to 3 months.
15-44 µg/dL:
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Your child’s lead level is quite high. You and your
doctor should act quickly.
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Talk with your doctor or nurse about your child’s diet,
growth and development, and possible sources of lead.
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Talk with your local health department about how to
protect your child. They will visit your home to help
you find sources of lead.
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If the lead level is 15 to 24, your child should be
tested again in 1 to 3 months.
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If the lead level is 25 to 44, your child should be
tested again in 2 weeks to 1 month.
45 µg/dL or higher:
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Your child needs medical treatment right away.
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Your doctor or health department will call you as soon
as they get the test result.
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Your child might have to stay in a hospital, especially
if your home has lead. Your local health department will
visit your home to help you find sources of lead. Your
child should not go back home until the lead sources are
removed or fixed.
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Your child needs to be tested again after treatment, and
monitored regularly until his/her lead level is below 10
μg/dL.
Links to Other Resources on Lead Poisoning and Prevention:
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Information for Contractors, Painters, Electricians,
Plumbers and Carpenters |
Starting April 22, 2010, federal law requires all persons
involved in paid renovation and repair work to be certified
in lead-safe practices.
Beginning in December 2008, the regulation required that
contractors performing renovation, repair and painting
projects that disturb lead-based paint provide to owners and
occupants of child care facilities and to parents and
guardians of children under age six that attend child care
facilities built prior to 1978 the lead hazard information
pamphlet
Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for
Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF)
(20 pp, 3.3MB).
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en español (PDF)
(20 pp, 3.2MB)
The following links will provide you with more information
about these regulations and where contractors can get the
training they need to comply with these regulations:
EPA requirements for
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/rrp/rrp.cfm
Training courses:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/training.htm
Small Entity Compliance Guide
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/sbcomplianceguide.pdf |
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| Contact
Us
If you have any questions or would like to
schedule a presentation, workshop, or display, please call
Barbara Plasker at (845) 364-2501.
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