Lead Poisoning Awareness

1. Lead Poisoning Awareness What Everyone Needs to Know…

2. Lead Lead is highly toxic to humans, especially young children. It has no known physiological value to the human body…exposure to lead should be avoided. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

3. Lead Poisoning • A very serious but preventable health problem • Nearly 1 million U.S. children under age 6 have lead poisoning (elevated blood lead levels) • Even children who seem healthy may have high levels of lead in their blood • 2.2 percent of American children age 1-5 years have blood levels of lead measuring at least 10 micrograms per deciliter. • —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

4. paint and paint dust the most common sources How Does Lead Get into Our Bodies? Through a variety of sources and pathways!

5. Ingestion Children have a lot of hand to mouth activity; lead goes through Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) Pica (repetitive consumption of a non-food item such as dirt 0r paint chips) is one of the worst risk factors Lead leaks into water from lead-based pipes NOTE: Lead absorption is enhanced if diet is poor in iron or calcium. Dust! Lead can be inhaled Tetraethyl lead (i.e., lead-based gasoline used prior to 1980) can be absorbed via skin (less common) Consumption and Absorption of Lead

6. Who’s most at Risk and Why • Children under 6 • Brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to damaging effects • Growing bodies absorb more lead • Babies and young children often put hands and objects in their mouths; objects or hands could have lead dust • Pregnant Women • Lead enters fetus through placenta and affects fetal development

7. Lead Poisoning - Health Effects • Affects nearly every system of the body • Especially harmful to developing brain and nervous system of children under 6 years old • Damage may be permanent (not always)

8. High lead levels Deafness Blindness Coma Convulsions Death (in rare cases) Moderate lead levels Damage to brain and nervous system Damage to liver Damage to kidneys Lead’s Effects on Children’s Bodies Low lead levels • Decreased intelligence • Behavioral problems • Decreased growth • Impaired hearing and speech • Poor muscle coordination

9. Effects of Lead on Children’s Bodies Lead-exposed children are more likely to have • Lower IQs • Reading difficulties • Poor vocabulary • Attention problems • Poor fine-motor coordination • Adverse behavior Lead poisoning is linked to: • Developmental delays • Learning disabilities • Behavior problems

10. Effects of Lead on Children’s Bodies In Older Children: • Greater school absenteeism • Lower class ranking • Greater risk of becoming school dropouts • Higher delinquency rates

11. Effects of Lead on Adults Adults can also be affected by lead poisoning: • fertility problems • high blood pressure • digestive problems • nerve disorders • memory and concentration • aggression or irritability • muscle and joint pain

12. Lead Hazards: Major Sources of Lead Poisoning Dust and chips from lead-based paint • Children may eat dust that accumulates on hands, toys, furniture, floor, window sills, porches • Children may inhale lead dust or fumes, common during renovations • Contaminated soil

13. 1950 approximately 90% of all residential dwellings contain lead-based paint 1950-1978 use of lead-based paint in dwellings diminished 1978 lead-based paint banned Where is lead-based paint found?

14. Where is lead-based paint found? • Many homes and apartment buildings built before 1978 • Lead-based paint that is peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking • Windows and window sills • Doors and door frames • Stairs, railings, banisters, porches • Lead dust • Formed when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded or heated, often during renovation of a home • Soil around a home or building

15. Lead Hazards:Other Sources of Lead Poisoning • Lead dust from adult workplaces • Drinking water contaminated by lead pipes or lead solder • Lead-glazed dinnerware or lead crystal • Imported mini-blinds (coloring) • Batteries • Adult hobbies • Bullets • Fishing sinkers

16. Lead Hazards:Other Sources of Lead Poisoning • A variety of imported products such as South Asian folk remedies or and candy made Mexico • Some cosmetics • Toys (rare) • Jewelry, including toy jewelry for promotional products or items sold in vending machines

17. Testing for Lead Poisoning • Lead-poisoned children do not always show obvious symptoms • Simple blood test can detect lead poisoning • Children under 6 should be screened by health professional

18. Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment Reduce the hazards in the home! Wash hands frequently!

19. Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment • Parents and guardians should check child’s environment (not just the home) for sources of lead: • Daycare • Preschool • Playground • Friends’ or relatives’ homes • Remove sources and/or keep child away from them • Clean up paint chips • Clean floors, window frames, window sills and other surfaces weekly

20. Follow safe cleaning practices Pregnant women should not clean up lead dust Keep children and pets away Wear plastic gloves to remove paint chips Damp mop and damp dust frequently Use vacuum equipped with HEPA filter for floors and drapes Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment

21. Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment • Ensure a balanced diet to help reduce lead’s damaging effect; diet should be • Low in fat • Have adequate iron, calcium, and zinc • Lead pipes -- let water run until cold • Know what to look for and where to go for more information (see handout) Children with poor diets are of greater risk of lead poisoning

22. Lead Poisoning Prevention - Know the Law • Maryland Law • Properties older than 1950 MUST have a valid lead inspection certificate • Maryland Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law • property owners must • Reduce lead paint hazard in rental properties older than 1950 • Register properties with Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program • Provide tenants with lead educational materials. Children in compliant properties are lesslikely to have lead poisoning

23. Lead Poisoning Prevention - Know the Law Maryland Law - Tenant Rights: • Property owner must give tenant the Notice of Tenant Rights, the EPA brochure, “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”, and a copy of the lead inspection certificate for the unit on or before the day you move in. • When a tenant moves in to a unit, there should be • No chipping, peeling or flaking paint • Smooth and cleanable window wells, window sills, and floors • Doors that open and close smoothly • Floors and windows that have been HEPA vacuumed and wet washed, removing lead dust. • Protection and Services for non-compliant property owners (see handout for resource on where to get more info)

24. Lead Poisoning Prevention - Know the Law When lead hazard reduction is required… only contractors and workers accredited by the Maryland Department of the Environment can perform lead hazard reduction work

25. Why Should Lead Poisoning Matter to Me?

26. University of ConnecticutSchool of Family Studies Mary-Margaret GaudioCooperative ExtensionUniversity of Connecticutwww.cyfernet.org/interactrain/preventlead.htmlState of Marylandhttp://www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/LandPrograms/LeadCoordination/tenants/index.aspEnvironmental Protection Agencyhttp://www.epa.gov/leadLead the Way Against Lead (Lead Education and Abatement Design Group), Dr. Ben Balzer, September, 2006) Credits