STILL A THREAT: LEAD POISONING

Over the past 30 years, the United States has experienced a dramatic decline in the amount of lead concentrations in children’s blood. This is primarily due to research studies and public education about the dangers of lead exposures. Despite these improvements, lead poisoning is still a major health concern.

Lead poisoning has been linked to lower intelligence, behavioral problems, diminished school performance, and language development delays. Lead can harm virtually every system in the human body.

Before 1970, childhood lead poisoning was defined by a blood lead concentration greater than 60 micrograms per deciliter. Today, the CDC has lowered the level of concern to 10 micrograms per deciliter.

There is no safe amount of lead. Children with high levels of lead in their teeth -- but no outward signs of lead poisoning -- had lower IQ scores, shorter attention spans, and poorer language skills.

At high doses, lead can cause mental retardation, seizures, or even death. At lower doses, it can affect memory, planning, intellect, and social adjustment. It is a powerful brain poisoning.

Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Needleman concluded that juvenile delinquents are four-times likelier than others their age to have elevated levels of lead in their bodies. The study compared pre-teens and teens ages 12 to 18 who were convicted in the Allegheny county Juvenile Court in Pennsylvania versus students in regular high schools without behavioral problems.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine by primary author Richard Canfield Ph.D., showed that even children with low doses of blood lead concentrations suffer intellectual impairment from exposure. This suggests that more children may be adversely affected by environmental lead than previously estimated.

According to the CDC, 434,000 of children in the United States between the ages of 1 and 5 years have blood lead levels greater than the recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. These levels have continued to decline. The CDC estimates that between 1991 and 1994, 4.4 percent of children aged 1 to 5 years in the United States had toxic blood levels from lead. However, earlier this year, a CDC study showed only 2.2 percent of children had toxic lead levels.

The primary prevention method is the prevention of exposure.

Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust but has been spread throughout the environment by various human activities. It is present in batteries and roofing materials. In 1978, laws were passed that banned the use of lead-based paint, a major source of lead poisoning. Although this has helped, lead problems still exist.

People can be exposed to lead by breathing air, drinking water, eating food or swallowing or touching dust or dirt that contains lead. In many cases there are no visible symptoms of elevated blood-lead levels or lead poisoning. The main treatment for lead poisoning is to stop the exposure. In some cases, medications are used to lower blood-lead levels. If lead poisoning is suspected, a private physician or the local health department can test for blood-lead levels through a blood test.

TIPS TO AVOID LEAD POISONING

To avoid lead poisoning, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following precautions:

At least once a year, take children under six years old to be tested for lead.

Keep children away from peeling paint. If your house was built before 1960 and you have peeling paint, call the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Wash children’s hands before they eat, after they play outdoors and before they sleep. Wash your hands before preparing food.

Wet-mop floors, and wipe furniture, window sills and other dusty surfaces
Don’t let children play under bridges, near highways or near heavily traveled roads.

Serve meals high in iron and calcium to help prevent lead from being absorbed into your children’s bodies

Run cold water for at least a minute before using. Never use hot water from the faucet to make baby formula or for cooking.

For testing water, call the Department of Environmental Protection.

Purchase bottled water for home and office consumption.