Lead Poisoning: A Preventable Medical Condition

Lead poisoning can occur with no obvious signs or symptoms. It can affect almost every system in the human body. It can cause many problems, including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and when the levels are extremely high, seizures, coma, and even death can occur. Often times, lead poisoning goes unrecognized until it is almost too late.

Exposure to lead can come from old, cracked, and pealing lead-based paint. This paint is commonly found in houses that were built before the year 1978, when lead-based paint was banned for use in houses. Many of these houses still have the lead-based paint on the walls, cracking, pealing, and producing lead-filled dust that can be inhaled into the body, and entering the blood stream.

Other common sources of lead are some hobbies, such as the making of stained-glass windows or decorations, work conditions, such as the production of car batteries, drinking water that runs through lead pipes, or brass fixtures that can contain lead, and even some homemade remedies for health problems can have lead in them.

Young children, under the age of six are at risk for lead poisoning because they are constantly touching things and putting things into their mouths. They may pick up paint chips, put them back down, and then put their fingers in their mouth. Kids at this young age are curious and want to touch everything. They do not think to wash their hands before putting a finger in their mouth. It is believed that children who live in poverty or below poverty level are at a higher risk, especially if they live in an older house or building. Lead poisoning seems to affect African American children the most, followed by Mexican-American children, and lastly, Caucasian children, all living in similar environments and housing.

Lead poisoning can be prevented. It is necessary to get rid of any lead hazard that may be in the home. Repaint the walls, use a wet mop, rather than a dry mop when cleaning the floors to prevent the dust from getting into the air, wash your child's toys and anything else they frequently put into their mouth often and thoroughly. Avoid using homemade remedies and make-up; only use cold water for cooking, drinking, and making anything that your child may drink. Hot water contains higher levels of lead. If you work with any material that may contain lead, shower and change your clothes before you hold your child, and try to avoid lead exposure yourself.

If you think that your child may be at risk for lead poisoning, or led exposure, have their blood checked to be sure that the level of lead is not too high. It is important to take steps to safeguard your child from lead exposure. Lead poisoning can cause many health problems in children, and can lead to death.