Getting the Lead Out of Children's Homes

Since the mid-1970's, lead has been removed from house paint, gasoline and smokestack emissions. However, over 310,000 children in the U.S. still live with peeling lead-based paint in their homes.

High levels of lead can affect thinking, concentration and learning. Lead levels that were once considered safe are now believed to cause health problems.

"Healthy Homes for Healthy Kids" is a national campaign of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its purpose is to increase awareness of lead poisoning, get kids tested and get lead out of homes.

If lead is present in the home, children can become exposed to it by:

• Chewing on paint chips that have peeled from the walls and ceiling
• Chewing on toys painted with lead-containing paint
• Swallowing dust from soil that contains lead particles
• Being exposed to hobby supplies
• Drinking water that contains dissolved lead

If a pregnant woman is exposed to lead, she can pass it to her unborn child. This can lead to premature birth and a small baby.

What symptoms should I look out for?

Early symptoms of lead poisoning include:

• Reduced attention span
• Irritability
• Frequent stomachaches
• Headaches
• Hearing problems

High-level lead exposure is a medical emergency that may cause:

• Severe stomachache
• Kidney damage
• Blood poisoning (Symptoms include severe fatigue, paleness and shortness of breath)
• Anemia
• Muscle weakness
• Convulsions
• Coma

Over time, low levels of lead exposure can affect young children by making them hyperactive and disorganized. They may have trouble paying attention and following instructions. A strong association has also been shown between elevated lead levels and lower IQ scores. Older children with lead poisoning are more likely to drop out of school and exhibit behavioral problems such as aggression and delinquency.

Long-term lead exposure can cause irreversible brain damage, especially in young children. The best treatment for lead poisoning is prevention.

What you can do:

• Get your child tested. Work with your doctor to have this simple blood test performed. Have your child tested if:
  • You live in an apartment building or house built before 1950, or your child often visits such a building.
  • You live in a home built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation, or your child often visits such a home.

  For children in either of these situations who are eligible for Medicaid, Medicaid will reimburse for two screenings, one at the age of one and another at the age of two. If your child is not eligible for Medicaid, many state and city health departments will pay for lead testing.

• Have your home inspected. If you suspect that your house or apartment has lead paint, don't remove it yourself. Sanding down lead paint or removing the paint yourself can release dangerous levels of lead dust. Get a qualified, licensed contractor to inspect and remove lead paint safely. Contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).
• Have your drinking water tested
  Lead in drinking water can come from old well water or from old plumbing materials and water service lines. If in doubt -especially if you live in an older residence - call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791.

Related Articles On the Lookout for Lead

External Sources Canfield, R., Henderson, C., Cory-Slechta, D., et al. Intellectual impairment in children with blood lead concentrations below 10 ug per deciliter. N Engl J Med , Vol. 348:1517-1526, April 17, 2003. Lead Exposure in Children: Prevention, Detection and Management. Pediatrics, 2005;116:1036-1046. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faq/about.htm. Accessed August 29, 2006.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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