The Truth About Lead Poisoning

With the recent recalls of toys due to high levels of lead paint, many parents have been wondering what is so dangerous about lead for their children. Obviously there is a large danger here, or toy makers and parents would not be so concerned. But what is lead poisoning? How does it harm our children?

Lead Poisoning and Children

Lead is a strong, toxic poison that can be inhaled or swallowed and introduced to the blood stream. Sometimes a person is diagnosed with lead poisoning after a large amount has entered the blood stream all at once, but the most frequent way that lead poisoning happens is through a gradual build up of lead in the body.

Part of the reason that this toy recall is such a huge problem is the fact that children younger than six are the ones at the highest risk of serious health effects of lead poisoning. Since the toys in question are aimed at children in this age group, the potential damage is high. Too much lead in a child's blood leads to damage of the brain and central nervous system. Since babies, toddlers, and preschoolers all have brains and central nervous systems that are still in development, this poses an extreme danger to our children.

Symptoms and Dangers

Lead poisoning can cause the following problems:

· Lowered IQ

· Learning disabilities

· ADD

· Behavior problems

· Growth problems

· Hearing problems

· Kidney problems

High levels of lead can cause retardation, coma and even death.

Part of the reason that lead poisoning is so scary is that there are few immediate symptoms. If your child consumed other harmful substances, such as a cleaning product, you would know right away because the child would get sick. With lead poisoning, there are few symptoms until the permanent damage is already done. Possible symptoms you may notice include:

· Mood changes

· Aggressiveness

· Headaches

· Insomnia

· Loss of sensation

· Loss of appetite

· Loss of energy

· Constipation

· Anemia

· Abdominal pain (with high doses)

Obviously, these symptoms could indicate a wide range of conditions and are not limited to lead poisoning, which is part of the reason why so many parents do not know their children have lead poisoning until the mental effects so up.

Treatment and Prevention

Lead poisoning is difficult to treat. Once the lead is in a child's bloodstream, little can be done about it. Sometimes the body deals with the poison on its own, and other times medical treatments must be pursued. There are a few treatments that help reduce lead levels, but the best treatment is to keep the child away from the source of lead in the first place. In the case of lead poisoning, prevention is the best cure.

So what does this mean in light of the recent toy recalls? If you have one of the recalled toys in your possession, get rid of it! Even if your child does not put his or her toys in the mouth that often, that toy is dangerous and could even be deadly. Mattel has created a recall process that will allow you to get a replacement toy or your money back. Simply go to the Mattel website to identify your toy and go through the replacement process. Your child's health is more important than a few minutes of your time!