The Dangers of Lead
Reducing Your Family's Risk of Lead Exposure
What is lead?
Lead is a soft and durable metal that is found in many places. It is often invisible, even when it is present in high amounts in substances like paint, dust or dirt. Exposure to excess lead is very harmful to people, especially children. Once ingested or inhaled, lead stays in the body for many years.
What damage is done by lead?
Pregnant women exposed to lead can transfer lead to their unborn baby causing permanent damage to the developing brain. Lead can increase the risk of your child having learning difficulties and behavior problems.
Most people who get lead in their body do not have any physical symptoms; they do not feel sick. Your developing baby may be getting too much lead, even when you don’t feel sick. When symptoms do occur, affected people may experience stomachaches, headaches, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, crankiness, tiredness or restlessness. Lead can also cause elevated blood pressure and anemia.
The only way to prevent damage from lead is to prevent exposure to lead.
Is my lead level too high?
Risk factors for elevated lead among pregnant women.
The highest risk for elevated blood lead levels is among women who recently immigrated from countries where lead is not well-regulated or where leaded gasoline is used. Particularly, women from Asia or Mexico may have higher blood lead levels from past exposures. Other common risk factors for lead exposure in pregnant women include eating non-food substances, like clay or dirt, working with lead at your job or hobby, current or past use of alternative remedies or foreign-made cosmetics (these remedies and cosmetics may not have been tested for lead before sale), use of pottery that has lead-containing glazes (usually this comes from Mexico), and having a low amount of iron in your body or not getting enough calcium or Vitamin D.
Use of tobacco and alcohol also can increase exposure to lead, and, it is well known that these harm the unborn baby, so exposures should be avoided.
Where is lead found?
Lead can be found almost anywhere. The largest source of lead is paint manufactured before 1978 and the dust created when it decays (see Figure). Old homes in the U.S. are likely to have lead-based paint in them. High amounts of lead in dust occur when paint is chipping or peeling or when paint is disturbed during repairs.
Source: www.hud.gov/offices/lead/techstudies/NSLAH_V1.doc
In Chicago, almost 60% of homes were built before 1950, putting Chicagoans at great risk for exposure to lead. People, especially children, eat lead by getting lead on their hands and then putting their hands into their mouth. People may also breathe in lead dust or fumes if they disturb lead-based paint.
Workers can be exposed to lead through inhalation of fumes and dusts, as well as through ingestion as a result of lead-contaminated hands, food, drinks, cosmetics, tobacco products, and clothing. Furthermore, workers can take lead home on their clothes, skin, hair, tools, and in their vehicles, potentially exposing their families to harmful health effects.
Lead is also sometimes found in toy jewelry, pottery, medications, cosmetics and other products. Certain hobbies -- such as stained glass, target shooting and casting fishing weights -- can expose people to lead.
Make your home lead safe for your baby. How is a home checked for lead?
Homes that are painted with lead-based paint may or may not be hazardous. To reduce exposure to lead, homes should be tested (especially if the home has paint in poor condition and was built before 1978) and hazards should be repaired. Trained professionals use different methods to check a home for lead including: visual inspection of paint condition and location; a portable x-ray fluorescence machine that measures lead through layers of paint; lab tests of paint samples; and surface dust tests. Home test kits for lead are available, but they are not always accurate. Consumers should not rely on these tests before doing renovations or to assure safety.
Qualified professionals need to do any repairs. There are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to ensure the work is done safely, reliably, and effectively. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) for a list of contacts in your area.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices. The contractor should follow these three simple procedures:
- Contain the work area
- Minimize dust
- Clean up thoroughly
What can I do to protect myself from lead during pregnancy?
1. Eat and serve a balanced diet with adequate intake of iron and calcium.
2. Never eat or mouth non-food items, such as clay, soil, pottery, or paint chips, because they may contain lead.
3. Avoid jobs or hobbies that may involve lead exposure, and take precautions to avoid take-home lead dust if a household member works with lead. Such work includes construction or home renovation/repair, and lead battery manufacturing or recycling.
4. Check your dishes to identify lead-glazed ceramic pottery. Also look for pewter or brass containers, as those may have lead. Do not use dishes that are chipped or cracked. Use dishes that you know are safe.
5. Let someone else do home repairs! Keep away from all areas in homes built before 1978 that that are being repaired or painted. Wait until the area is very clean before you return.
6. Avoid using alternative medicines, food additives, and cosmetics imported from overseas, as these may contain lead. Tell your doctor about products you have used.
7. Use caution when consuming candies or spices imported from other countries or personally brought into the country from abroad. If these appear to be noncommercial products of unknown safety, don’t use them.
What should I do if I am concerned about my family’s exposure to lead?
Call you local health department to request an inspection or for advice on reducing and eliminating exposures to lead.
A blood test is the only way to find out if you or a family member already has been exposed to lead. Call your doctor or local health department to request a blood test.
Simple steps to reduce children’s exposure to lead include: regularly wet mop floors, window sills and other surfaces; frequently wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys; and take off shoes when entering the house.
What if my lead level is too high?
Treating lead poisoning involves removing the person from the source of the poison. The health department can help you determine where you are being exposed to lead and also help you make sure your home is lead-safe for the baby.
Depending on the level of lead in the blood, there are different methods of treatment. First, avoid further exposure to lead and make sure you are getting a healthy diet with enough iron, calcium and vitamin D. If the level of lead is above the acceptable limit, medications may be prescribed which help eliminate lead from the body. These medicines are rarely necessary for pregnant women and treatment should be guided by a specialist. For more dangerous levels of lead, the person may need to be hospitalized for medicines to be given directly into the veins. During and after treatment, the affected person will need to have frequent monitoring of her blood lead level and the baby will need frequent checkups after delivery.
Remember: The only way to prevent damage from lead is to prevent exposure to lead.
To learn about your home, call the Metropolitan Tenants Organization 312/292-4980
For more information, please contact:
1. Illinois Department of Public Health at 866-909-3572 or 312-747-LEAD
2. Chicago Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Positing Program: (312) 747-LEAD [5323]
3. The National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or www.epa.gov/lead
4. CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch at 770-488-3300 www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead
5. Lead Safe Illinois www.leadsafeillinois.org
