Although preventable, lead poisoning remains a significant health concern for young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead in a child's blood. Elevated levels can harm a child’s central nervous system and are associated with reduced IQ, behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Iowa HHS leads efforts in Iowa to prevent lead poisoning in children below the age of 6 through the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP).
Lead poisoning happens in children when they have lead in their bodies. Lead is highly toxic and can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, headaches and more. Even small amounts of lead can harm a child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states there is no safe level of lead in a child’s system.
The most common way that kids get lead poisoning is from lead-based paint. This type of paint was used in many U.S. homes until the late 1970s, when the government banned the use of paint containing lead in houses.
Young children are also very active and like to explore. A child can crawl on the floor and reach windows, walls, railings or doors. All of these areas can be sources of peeling and chipping lead-based paint or leaded dust. Even toys and food that have fallen on the floor can be coated with lead dust. Children can also be exposed to lead when they:
put soil contaminated with lead in their mouth
eat food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead, or imported from countries that use lead to seal canned food
play with toys or jewelry that contain lead
come into contact with a parent or guardian with a job or hobby where lead is used
live in a home where cultural practices, remedies or products that contain lead are used
drink water that flows through old lead soldered pipes or faucets
Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children (6 months to 3 years) have more risk of exposure to lead than older children. Young children absorb lead more easily than older kids and adults, and lead is more harmful to them. A child's quickly growing body can be harmed by even small amounts of lead.
According to the CDC, children are at a higher risk for lead exposure if they:
are low income or poor
are members of racial-ethnic minority groups
are recent immigrants
live in older, poorly maintained properties
have parents who are exposed to lead at work
Most children have no signs of being sick. Others may have symptoms like:
headaches
behavioral problems and trouble concentrating
loss of appetite
weight loss
nausea and vomiting
constipation
a metallic taste in the mouth
feeling tired
muscle and joint weakness
looking pale
Parents can protect children from lead poisoning by:
Asking your doctor about having your children tested for lead exposure. If a child has lead poisoning, all children in the home should be tested.
Knowing where your kids play. Keep them away from windows with chipping and peeling paint, and bare soil around homes and in play areas.
Feeding your child foods high in calcium, iron and vitamin C. If kids are exposed to lead, good nutrition may reduce the amount of lead absorbed by their bodies. Eating regular meals is helpful because less lead is absorbed by the body.
Wet mop floors and keep dusty surfaces clean using a wet disposable cloth or paper towel and soap and water.
Washing your children’s hands and toys often with soap and water. Always wash hands before eating and sleeping.
A blood lead test is the only way to know if your child has lead poisoning. Iowa HHS recommends children be tested early and often for lead. At a minimum, blood tests to check for lead in the body should be done when children are 1 and 2 years in age.
Talk to your healthcare provider to request a blood lead test for your child. Some community agencies or the local health department may also offer lead testing as part of their services.
Many counties in Iowa have a local childhood lead poisoning prevention program that coordinates services for families of children with elevated blood lead levels.
Most of Iowa's pre-1978 homes contain some lead-based paint. Assume your house still has some lead present if it was built before 1978, even if it has been renovated or repainted. Young children who live in pre-1978 homes can become lead poisoned when they get house dust and soil on their hands and put their hands in their mouths, when they breathe in lead dust, or when they put paint chips, exterior soil or items containing lead in their mouth. Large amounts of lead dust and debris can result when older homes are remodeled, repaired or painted. You should routinely check your home for possible lead hazards and check the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recall list.
Your child’s risk of lead exposure may also be higher if the child:
lives in a poorly maintained house or rental property
is low income or living in poverty
is a member of a racial or ethnic minority group
is a recent immigrant, refugee or was adopted from a foreign country
is in foster care
has a mental or behavioral disorder that increases mouthing
has parents who are exposed to lead at work
Having one or more of these conditions does not predict risk in every community, and children in these groups may not be exposed to lead and may not have elevated blood lead levels. Only a blood test can determine whether a child has lead poisoning.
Risk of lead exposure can be determined by using the Lead Exposure Risk Model. This model, developed by the Iowa Public Health Tracking Program, is a predictive tool that can be used to determine a child’s risk of lead exposure based on the age their housing, poverty level and language spoken in the home other than English.
Lead-based paint, lead chips and lead dust can pose serious health hazards and is still a serious concern in Iowa. Many homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 contain lead-based paint hazards on both interior and exterior surfaces. Buildings built before 1960 pose the most significant health risks. Whether you own your home or manage rental properties, it is very important to care for the lead-painted surfaces. Lead-based paint in good condition is usually not harmful, so it’s important to keep paint in good condition.
Watch the latest Healthy Habit All-Stars video, featuring Lucy’s little sister Parker, and the other Healthy Habit All-Stars. In Episode 6: Parker’s Problem, the Healthy Habit All-Stars talk about lead, why it’s dangerous to kids’ health and ways to stay safe from lead.
This episode of the Healthy Habit All-Stars is brought to you by Iowa HHS and the Iowa Department of Education.
