Lead Poisoning Toy Recalls for Lead Based Paint Is the Big News This Year

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Lead Poisoning Toy recalls for lead based paint is the big news this year. Many toys from China have been found to have lead paint, which is dangerous to children if they chew or suck on the toy. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and growth retardation. How can you get lead poisoning? Lead can be found in many places around your house – in dust, paint chips, in the water, in bowls or other dishes, or even in your garden. You get lead poisoning by swallowing or inhaling it. Since children tend to put things in their mouth, they are more susceptible to the risk of lead poisoning. The National Institutes of Health warns that lead may be found in: • Houses painted before 1978. Infants and children living in pre-1960’s housing (when paint often contained lead) have the highest risk of lead poisoning. Lead paint is very dangerous when it is being stripped or sanded. These actions release fine lead dust into the air. Small children often swallow paint chips or dust from lead-based paint. • Toys and furniture painted before 1976. • Painted toys and decorations made outside the U.S. • Children’s paint sets and art supplies (always look at labels). • Soil in your garden, contaminated by lead from car exhaust or house paint scrapings. • Plumbing, pipes and faucets whose pipes were connected with lead solder. While new building codes require lead-free solder, lead is still found in some modern faucets and can be found drinking in water. • Hobbies involving soldering, such as pottery glazing, stained glass or jewelry making, (always look at labels). • Lead bullets, fishing sinkers, curtain weights. • Pewter pitchers and dinnerware. • Storage batteries. What happens with lead poisoning? There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child’s mental development. Young children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to lead’s harmful health effects, because their brains and central nervous system are still being formed. For them, even very low levels of exposure can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, and kidney damage. At high levels of exposure, a child may become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning. The symptoms of lead poisoning may include: • Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison) • Very high levels may cause vomiting, staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma • Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children) • Irritability • Aggressive behavior • Low appetite and energy • Difficulty sleeping • Headaches • Reduced sensations • Anemia • Constipation continued on back

www.Nemours.org How do I keep my house safe? You can reduce your exposure to lead. Consider the following steps: • Small children should have a lead test every year. • If you suspect you may have leaded paint in your house, get advice on safe removal from the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD or visit www.epa.gov/lead. • Keep your home as dust free as possible. • Everyone should wash their hands before eating. • Make sure to wash all toys every week. • Throw out old painted toys if you do not know whether the paint contains lead. • Let tap water run for a minute before drinking or cooking with it. • If your water has been tested high in lead, consider installing an effective filtering device or switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking. • Good food helps a lot. If you eat low-fat foods and lots of vegetables and fruits, lead doesn’t stay in your body very well.