Where is lead most commonly found?
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House paint is the main source of lead that affects children. Paint can peel or chip off of
walls, window sills, doors or cribs and tiny bits of lead can end up on baby’s toys, clothing, hands
or bedding and eventually get into babies’ mouths.
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Lead can also be found in drinking water. Old lead pipes can deposit particles of lead into
the water, especially when the hot water is running.
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Soil or dust can also be contaminated with dust. This is especially a problem where old buildings
have been torn down.
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Lead is in pots, dishes and ceramics that are handmade or made outside of the United States.
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Lead can typically be found in paint and dust on the inside and outside of homes and buildings built before 1978.
Where else can lead be found?
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Lead can also be found in the workplace. Workplaces where lead can be found include places where people work with
radiators, batteries, welding or soldering and at painting/remodeling job sites.
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Newspapers and magazines can contain lead, especially those with colored ink.
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Car exhaust and fumes, burning wood, burning tobacco and cigarettes, fumes from overheated Teflon or non-stick cookware,
fumes from gas stovetops, some tattoo inks, kerosene heaters, asbestos and children’s sand made from stone or marble
can all contain lead.
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Some hobby equipment like fishing sinkers, bullets and stained glass can contain lead.
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Finally, lead can also be found in home remedies (bright orange, yellow or white powders) like Greta, Azarcon, Paylooah
or Liga; make-up like Kohl and Surma and some imported candies and delicacies such as tamarind fruit, dried grasshoppers
and even chili power from Mexico.
What does lead exposure do?
Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick at all! However, even a small amount of lead is a dangerous poison to
young children since they can put lead in their mouths by accident.
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Lead poisoning can lower IQ and hinder a child’s growth.
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Learning and behavior problems are also affects of lead poisoning.
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Lead poisoning can also cause damage to the kidneys.
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Attention and hearing loss are also affects of lead poisoning.
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
Some children may have stomach aches and/or head aches; however, young children can have these symptoms for other reasons.
Can my child be tested for lead poisoning?
Yes! The only test for lead poisoning is a simple blood test. Most children are tested at 1 and 2 years old but some children over
2 years old also need to be tested if they have never been tested before.
What can I do to keep my child safe and lead free?-
Keep your home clean and dust free. Wet mop floors, wet wipe window sills, vacuum regularly and wash all surfaces often.
Use household cleaner and rinse with clean water to keep dust from spreading in the house.
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Watch what your child puts in their mouth. Do not let children chew on painted surfaces like cribs, doors, walls or
window sills.
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Wash your child’s hands often, especially after they handled something suspicious, before eating and sleeping. Also,
wash children’s toys regularly. Lead dust can stick to toys and hands that children put into their mouths.
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Take off shoes or wipe them on a doormat before going inside to keep lead dust outside.
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Keep painted furniture that is chipping away from children. Keep items like cribs, playpens, beds and highchairs away
from chipping or peeling paint.
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Plant bushes, grass, lay paving stones, concrete or gravel to cover bare dirt outside where children play.
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Change out of work clothes and shoes, wash up or shower when coming home from work if you work with/near lead.
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Do not use imported or handmade dishes, pots or serving platters for food or drinks unless they have been tested and
found to be lead free.
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Never sand, dry scrape, wash or sandblast paint unless it has been tested and does not have lead in it. Lead dust from
paint can spread and poison your family, pets and neighbors.
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Providing a nutritious diet high in iron, zinc and calcium for your child can also protect them from lead poisoning. Foods
rich in Vitamin C consumed with high iron foods helps absorption of iron.
Should pregnant women be concerned about lead poisoning?-
Lead can be passed from pregnant women to the fetus, so women should take steps to ensure that they do not have excessive
lead exposure during pregnancy.
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Pregnant women should not engage in any activities that disturb lead-based paint, live or be present in a home where work
is under way that disturbs lead-based paint or has been disturbed within 24 hours.
Lead and Nutrition
It is harder for lead to get into the blood when children eat regular meals and snacks along with foods high in calcium, iron, and zinc.
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Foods high in calcium include milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, tofu, corn tortillas, sardines, salmon, dark green leafy
vegetables and peanuts.
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Foods high in iron include lean meats, chicken, dried beans, cereal with iron, oatmeal, split peas, dried fruits, raisins and
dark green leafy vegetables.
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Foods high in zinc include red meats, poultry, fortified cereals and grains.
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Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes,
bell peppers, fruit juice, strawberries, collard greens, and broccoli.
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Fatty foods allow the body to absorb lead faster and should generally be avoided. Serving high fat foods less often can
also help protect children from lead poisoning. High fat foods include fried foods, french fries, donuts, cookies, ice cream,
candy, snack crackers and fast food.
Does my landlord have a responsibility to remove lead-based paint from homes?
If you have a child under the age of 6 years old and they have a blood level of 20µg/dL or more, your landlord may be required to
take certain actions. Laws and regulations may vary according to the jurisdiction in which you live.
Does the housing authority of my public housing project have any responsibility to remove lead-based
paint from homes?
If you live in a housing project that was built prior to 1978, the housing authority should have given you a brochure stating that
the home may contain lead-based paint. If your child has an elevated blood level of 20µg/dL or more, the housing authority must
test your home within 5 days after notification by your doctor of the child’s high blood-lead level. If lead-based paint is found
during testing, the housing authority must treat those surfaces within 14 days. If they are unable to treat the hazardous surfaces,
then the housing authority must move your family to a unit that was previously treated or one that was built after 1978.
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