Lead Poisoning

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• QWhy should I avoid toys made of PVC for my children?

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  A Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

  Many of us have memories of playing at the beach or splashing in a pool, building sand castles and floating in the water. When passing these activities on to the next generation, it is important to learn about possible toxins in their toys. Some plastic toys may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can contain lead or phthalates. When young children play with these toys, especially during the teething phase of life, they may put them in their mouths, allowing for the possibility that the lead or phthalates added the plastic products may leach into their mouths and get into your children’s systems.
  
  While lead is usually only added to plastics in small amounts, no lead level is safe for children. Exposure to even low levels of lead has been associated with behavioral problems and decreased intelligence in children. Once higher levels of lead exposure are achieved, children may exhibit gastrointestinal related symptoms, and severe lead poisoning may be associated with neurological symptoms.
  
  Phthalates are additives often found in plastic products to give them more flexibility. In animal studies, phthalates have been shown to cause disruptions in hormonal function and to cause problems with male reproductive organs. In children, scientists have found associations between phthalates and changes in reproductive hormones, increased allergies, runny noses and eczema.

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• QHow can I avoid exposure to lead?

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  A Environmental Working Group (EWG) answered

  To avoid exposure to lead, keep your home clean and well maintained. Crumbling old paint is a major source of lead exposure, so remove it carefully. A good water filter can reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water. And if you need another reason to eat better, studies have shown that children with healthy diets absorb less lead.
• QWhat can I do to reduce my child's exposure to lead?

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  A Dr. James D. Fortenberry, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

  • Teach your child to wash his hands and face before meals.
  • Wash toys and pacifiers often.
  • Do not burn painted wood. It may contain lead.
  • Make sure your child does not chew on painted surfaces such as windowsills, cribs or playpens.
  • Do not bring lead dust into the home. If you work with lead in your job or hobby, change your clothes before you go into your home.
  • Direct your child to play in sand or on a grassy area instead of dirt.
  • Keep your child from eating dirt and make sure hands are washed after play.
  • Plant grass or other ground covers if your soil may contain lead, such as around a home built before 1978 or near a major highway. For older homes with lead paint (built before 1978):
  • Damp mop or wipe floors and windowsills twice a week. Use a solution of powdered automatic dishwasher detergent and warm water (or a trisodium phosphate detergent) to reduce risk from lead paint and lead dust.
  • Keep play areas as dust-free and clean as possible.
  • Talk with your health department about testing paint or dust from your home.
  • For lead in drinking water: Most well or city water does not naturally contain lead. However, if your plumbing is made with lead materials, water can pick up lead inside your home. Household water will contain more lead if it sits for a long time in pipes, is hot or is naturally acidic. If your water contains lead or has not been tested:
  • Do not drink, cook or make baby formula with hot water from the tap.
  • Run cold water for at least 2 minutes before drinking it or using it for cooking.
  • Buy a filter certified for lead removal.

  Foods: A child who gets enough iron and calcium in his diet will absorb less lead. Do not store or serve food in lead crystal glassware, open cans, imported or old pottery. Keep the printed label on the outside of the bag if you reuse plastic bags to store or carry food.

• QHow can I protect my children from the lead paint in our home?

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  A Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

  If you have lead paint in your house, mop weekly with a mild detergent solution from the floor up the walls to the height of your child plus 1 foot. Many grocery stores and home centers carry nontoxic soaps that you can dilute to make just such a mild cleaning solution. Cleaning up will help get rid of the lead dust before it gets into your child.
  
  Use paper towels to wipe down windowsills, window wells, baseboards, floor and door moldings, wall trims, and other flat places. Seeing things from your child’s point of view will also help you figure out which nooks and crannies to clean. Sit on the floor and move around the room, removing dust from every place your child can reach. Put the used paper towels in a secure trash container so they don’t dry out and redistribute the lead dust around the house.
  
  In addition to washing your floors and other surfaces weekly, regularly wash your child’s toys and pacifiers. Wash your child’s hands frequently as well, especially before he sits down for a meal or snack.

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• QWhat is lead paint?

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  A RealAge answered

  Homes and other buildings that were built before 1978 may contain lead paint, which is a toxin. Toys, dishes and other household items, especially older or imported ones, may also contain lead or lead paint. Exposure to lead is dangerous for both adults and children. But children are especially at risk because they're more likely to lick things or put them in their mouth; also they are smaller than adults, and their brains are still developing. Today, the sale of lead paint is banned and building contractors are required to follow new safety rules when renovating buildings that contain lead paint. But sources of lead and paint still exist, with more than 10,000 new, confirmed cases of lead poisoning in children under age 6 occuring in the US each year. In addition to old peeling or chipped paint, sources of lead include soil in busy or industrial areas and water that's pumped through old lead pipes. Symptoms to watch for include headaches, irritability, problems with concentration, loss of appetite, fatigue or no energy, nausea and vomiting, pale skin, constipation, stomach aches and weight loss.
• QHow do children get lead poisoning?

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  A Dr. James D. Fortenberry, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

  Lead is a metal found in our environment that has no value to the body.  It was used in paint, gasoline, water pipes and many other products before we knew how harmful it could be to humans.  Now that we know the danger, it is not used in these products. Lead cannot be seen, tasted or smelled.  It may be in the dust, paint, soil, water or food in and around your home.  Lead does not decay naturally, so it can be a problem until it is removed.  The greatest risk is in children under 6 years of age.

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• QWhat are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Symptoms of lead poisoning aren't always obvious, which makes lead poisoning difficult to diagnose. People who appear to be healthy can have high levels of lead in their blood; when symptoms do appear, the accumulation of lead has already reached a dangerous level. Hemoglobin (protein which carries oxygen in red blood cells) is usually affected first. Later, lead begins to affect the nervous system.

  Some signs of lead poisoning in children include crankiness, decreased attention span, weight loss, fatigue, vomiting, and constipation. Adults who are affected by lead poisoning may experience headaches, fatigue, memory loss, and abdominal pain, among other symptoms. The disorder can result in abnormal sperm, infertility, or miscarriage.

• QWhat is lead poisoning?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Over the years lead can accumulate in the body, causing lead poisoning. Seemingly insignificant amounts of lead in the body over time and cause illness. Lead poisoning can cause severe mental and physical impairment in children under 6 years of age. High levels of lead can kill.

  In the United States, lead poisoning has decreased since the ban on lead in paint and most gasoline's. There are still high rates of lead poisoning, also known as plumbism on the East Coast.

• QWhat causes lead poisoning?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Exposure to lead from various sources can cause lead poisoning. Lead is a naturally occurring metal in the soil, but many sources of lead exposure are the result of industries such as manufacturing and mining. Lead has been banned from paint and gasoline, but it is still used in products such as batteries, plumbing pipes, roofing materials, pottery, and certain cosmetics.

  Lead pipes (or pipes that have been soldered with lead) can expose people to lead through their drinking water. Lead particles from gasoline or paint can persist in soil or household dust for years. Lead-based paint, common in older dwellings, becomes a health hazard when paint chips are eaten by children. Glazes used on some imported ceramic dishes often contain lead which can leach into food. Some canned food and cosmetics manufactured outside the United States can also be sources of lead.

• QHow does lead poisoning affect the body?

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  A Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered

  Lead poisoning can affect many parts of the body, but the most serious risks are to the brain and nervous system. Even a low level of lead exposure can cause irreversible brain damage in children. Higher lead levels in both children and adults are likely to damage the nervous system and kidneys. Very elevated lead levels could result in convulsions and even death.

  Long-term problems in children with lead poisoning include anemia, learning disabilities, and hearing damage. Adults may develop cataracts, kidney damage, and loss of sex drive, among many other complications.