Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead is one of the most serious environmental hazards faced by young children, especially those under six years of age. Many lead hazards still exist in homes and the environment, including paint, folk remedies, plumbing, glazed ceramics, vinyl mini-blinds, chalk, candle wicks, and others. These hazards are commonly present during painting and remodeling of pre-1978 housing. When exposed to lead, young children do not show obvious signs of illness unless the amount of lead in their body becomes very high. However, low levels of lead may cause delays in mental and physical development. While these delays may not be visible when the child is young, they may dramatically affect the child's future. There are medical treatments for lead poisoning, but these have serious side effects and are not recommended unless the child's exposure is very high. For these reasons, it is critical to prevent children from being exposed to lead hazards.