The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in Newark

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The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
in Newark
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What is Lead?

• Lead is a poisonous metal that can be absorbed by
  the body, primarily through the lungs and
  stomach. Lead poisoning occurs only when too much
  lead accumulates in the body. Generally, lead
  poisoning occurs slowly, resulting from the
  gradual accumulation of lead in bone and tissue
  after repeated exposure.

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Who is at Risk for Lead Poisoning?

• Children under the age of six years old are more
  vulnerable because they are growing so rapidly
  because at that age children tend to put their
  hands and objects into their mouth.
• Children living in old, deteriorating housing.
  Lead-based paint is still the major source of
  childhood lead poisoning.More than half of
  Contra Costa cases have been linked to lead-based
  paint.Statewide percentages are even higher.
• Pregnant Women or Women who may become pregnant

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Who should be tested for possible lead poisoning?

• Children with learning or behavioral problems
• Children who have a sibling, housemate or
  playmate being followed or treated for an
  elevated lead level.
• Children who live in or regularly visit a house
  with peeling or chipping paint built before 1960.
  This also includes day-care, pre-school or the
  babysitter's house.
• Children living near environmental sources of
  lead, such as battery manufacturing plants, lead
  smelters, battery recycling plants or other lead
  industries

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What Every Parent Should Know About Lead
Poisoning In Children

• For children at risk for lead exposure, a simple
  blood test can prevent a lifetime spoiled by the
  irreversible damage caused by lead poisoning.
• Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities,
  behavioral problems, and at very high levels,
  seizures, coma, and even death.
• Children between 12 and 36 months of age have a
  lot of hand to mouth activity, so if there is
  lead in their homes, they are more likely to take
  it in than are older children.
• One of the most important risk factors for lead
  exposure is the age of housing. Over 80 percent
  of all homes built before 1978 in the U.S. have
  lead-based paint in them. The older the house,
  the more likely it is to contain lead-based paint
  and a higher concentration of lead in the paint.
• According to recent CDC estimates, 890,000 U.S.
  children age 1-5 have elevated blood lead levels,
  and more than one-fifth of African-American
  children living in housing built before 1946 have
  elevated blood lead levels. These figures reflect
  the major sources of lead exposure deteriorated
  paint in older housing, and dust and soil that
  are contaminated with lead from old paint and
  from past emissions of leaded gasoline.

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Sources of Lead

• Soil
• Dirt and Dust
• Pesticides
• Paint
• Windowsills
• Tap Water

• Old painted toys and furniture
• Greta
• Azarcon
• Gasoline Additives
• Food can solder
• Ceramic Glaze

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Effects of Lead Poison?

• Behavior Problems
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Damage to the nervous system, kidneys, Brain
  and/or hearing
• Speech and language problems
• Developmental delay
• Low I.Q.

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Lead Poisoning Prevention

• Clean household surfaces and floors often by wet
  wiping, not sweeping, which can kick up lead
  dust.
• Put duct tape or contact paper over peeling paint
  and plaster.
• Wash your childrens hands often, especially
  before eating, naps, bedtime and any occasion
  when their hands are near their mouths.
• Frequently wash items children put in their
  mouths, including bottles, pacifiers, toys and
  blankets
• Flush lead from drinking water by running cold
  water for about one minute before using it.
• Feed children foods high in iron and calcium,
  which can reduce the bodys digestion of lead.

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Treatment for Lead Poison

• Testing Contact your physician or local health
  department to request a blood test specifically
  for lead levels.
• Chelation therapy is the most common treatment
  when lead poisoning levels have reached an
  elevated level.

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What the public and parents can do to reduce
blood lead levels

• Ask a doctor to test your child if you are
  concerned about your child being exposed to lead.
  
• Talk to your state or local health department
  about testing paint and dust from your home for
  lead if you live in a house or apartment built
  before 1978, especially if young children live
  with you or visit you.
• Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, and
  frequently wash a childs hands, pacifiers, and
  toys to reduce exposure to lead.
• Use only cold water from the tap for drinking,
  cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water
  is more likely to contain higher levels of lead,
  and most of the lead in household water usually
  comes from the plumbing in your house, not from
  the local water supply.