Lead
Education
Lead education deserves a high profile when considering children (especially 6 months to 6 years old) are at highest risk. Navigating at or near ground level, they have increased exposure to home deterioration and dust sediment. Their limited body mass contributes to elevated lead levels. In a developmental mode they more readily absorb lead into their systems.
Primary sources are lead-based paint dust and chips. Lead poisoning affects nearly 1 million children across the U.S. each year. It only requires a paint chip the size of a fingernail or paint dust, equal to that in a sugar packet. The potential results include:
- Decreased intelligence
- Decreased growth
- Behavioral disorders
- Anemia
- Kidney disfunction
- Neuro-muscular disorder
- Sezure
- Coma
- Death
The lead hazard is not limited to paint. Other less recognized sources include:
- Vinyl blinds
- China
- Pottery/ceramics
- Stained glass
- Solder
- Soil contamination
- Refinishing chemicals
- Some foreign food canning
- Some imported candies and wrappers
- Some folk remedies (greta, azarcon)
- Public water supply
- Old pipes and plumbing fixtures (pre-1980, 1983-1988)
Adults generally remain at a low risk level. Certain manufacturing processes present lead hazards to employees. Construction contractors should recognize the hazard and practice safe procedures.
IMPORTANT: Pregnant Women Are At High Risk
Everyone takes in minimal amounts of lead and excretes a large percentage through urination and sweating. However, as the level of lead increases, the body mistakes lead for calcium, iron, and zinc. The brain, liver, kidneys, and bone marrow are particularly adept at absorbing lead. Nearly all body systems are adversely effected. The bodies of children and pregnant women crave these minerals and therefore have the highest absorption rate for the lead substitute. During these periods of development one may run low on these minerals, further increasing lead absorption rates. Under these circumstances the fetus and newborn are at very high risk. Umbilical blood supply will contain high lead levels.
______________ Developed by Jerry Hash
Extension Housing Associate
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0276.