Lead Awareness
Keeping Your Family Safe
Who is affected by lead poisoning?
Anybody can become lead poisoned, but young children, who live in a home
built before 1978, are at greatest risk. Lead poisoning will usually begin
to appear in children just prior to their first birthday (when they start
to become mobile), and in most cases, levels will peak somewhere between
the 2nd and 3rd birthday.
Children in Western Pennsylvania are at risk for lead poisoning because more than 90% of the homes in this region were built before 1978 when lead-based paint was still used. As a result, one in four children have enough lead in their bodies to cause damage. Many parents and physicians do not realize this risk exists and do not request screenings for their young children and patients.
Lead is a neuro-toxin and can cause brain damage, nervous system damage, decreased IQ at low levels, poor performance in school and delinquency later in life, hearing problems, behavioral problems, headaches, irritability, loss of energy, hyperactivity, constipation, and in extremely high levels, coma, convulsions, or death.
Pregnant women are also at risk because their exposure to lead can be passed on to their unborn children through the placenta.
So what can be done to protect children from lead poisoning? First, pregnant women and children, especially those between the ages of 12 and 24 months, should be screened for lead poisoning. This involves a simple blood test, is covered by all major insurance companies, and can be done either at the doctor's office or a recommended laboratory.
Second, if the residence or childcare facility was built before 1978, then a Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor should evaluate the home for the presence of lead. These professionals will confirm the presence of lead in your home, identify hazards, and work with you to develop a plan to make your home safe from lead. If renovation will be ongoing, children should be screened repeatedly to insure that they do not become poisoned.