LEAD PAINT POISONING
Lead is very dangerous to children. A child’s growing body absorbs more lead than adults do. A young child between to ages of 9 month and 6 years old are at most risk. Their brains and nervous systems are very sensitive to the effects of lead. If you are pregnant, lead can hurt your baby.
One of the reasons babies and young children are so susceptible to lead poisoning is because they are constantly putting their fingers and other objects into their mouth that can have lead from dust or soil on them.
CHILDREN CAN BE EXPOSED TO LEAD BY:
• Using dishes or glasses that contain lead.
• Inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint. When lead-based paint peels or cracks it makes lead dust that can poison children when they swallow or breathe in the lead dust.
• Playing in lead contaminated soil.
• Playing with toys with lead-based paint.
• Houses built before 1978 used lead paint. Lead-based paint was banned after 1978.
• Peeling or cracking lead-based paint. Young child may swallow the peeling paint.
• Certain water pipes can contain lead.
• Lead can be in candies from other countries, like Mexico.
• An adult can bring lead dust into the home if it is present at their workplace (Construction workers, Auto repair, Plumbing, working with batteries, and Welders )
• Some hobbies like stain glass may contain lead-based products and the lead dust can be brought into the home.
• Renovations being done to older homes can cause lead dust to fall inside and outside the home.
• Make-up
• Toy jewelry
• Imported cans of food
• Home remedies, especially red, yellow, orange
• White powders used for stomachaches (such as Azarcon or Paylooah)
WARNING SIGNS OF LEAD PAINT POISONING
Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. A lead test is the only way to know if your child has lead poisoning. Here are some symptoms you can look for:
Some children may have:
• Upset stomach
• Trouble eating or sleeping
• Headaches
• Trouble paying attention
Often lead paint poisoning is detected when a baby or young child has a routine physical and blood test.
The long-term effects of lead are very harmful to children. Elevated lead paint levels do not go away. Long-term effects can:
• Harm the brain, kidneys, and nervous system
• Slow down growth and development
• Make it difficult for the child to learn.
• Damage hearing and speech
• Cause behavior problems
According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, Childhood Lead Paid Poisoning Prevention Program, a blood lead level of 5 or more is not safe. A lead level of 10 or more means your child is lead poisoned. With levels of 10 or more, your child may have to stay in the hospital. The doctor may give your child medication to help get the lead out of the child’s body. This is call “chelation”.
If you suspect development problems with your child, talk to your doctor. The child may need special education programs that can start before they go to school and continue while they are in school.
It is important that you find the location of lead paint contamination.
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEAD LAW
The Lead Law protects children under 6 years old who live in a home built before 1978. If there is lead paint in the home, the owner must fix it.
Property owners must obey the law. If a child gets lead poisoning from their home, the owner or landlord is responsible.
DISCRIMINATION
If you rent your home:
• Your landlord cannot evict you or raise your rent because of lead paint.
• A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because you have children, even if there is lead in the home. This is illegal.
• A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because of your race, income, or disability.
• If you have a problem with discrimination, call CLPPP for help.
*CLPPP stands for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. If you have questions about lead, call CLPPP for toll free at 1-800-532-9571 or visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/CLPPP
RESOURCES
Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program (CLPPP) Massachusetts Department of Public Health 250 Washington St., 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Call: 1-800-532-9571 or 617-624-5757 TTY: 617-624-5286
Email: clppp@state.ma.us
On the web: www.mass.gov/dph/clppp
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health
Disclaimer
This information is for general purposes only, and should not be construed as a substituted for professional advice from your health professional. We do not support self-diagnosis based on any information found in this fact sheet. We are not responsible for any self-diagnosis made by a reader based on information found in this fact sheet. It is merely meant to be an informational tool to present warning signs that should be brought to the attention of a medical doctor.