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Protecting your children from lead poisoning
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Lead is an extremely toxic metal and is a cumulative poison that is retained in the central nervous system, brain, bones, hair and glands once ingested. Children exposed to it may experience liver and kidney damage, brain damage and lower intelligence, behavior and learning problems, hyperactivity, impaired speech and language development, as well as hearing damage. It can also impede their normal growth rate.
Signs of lead poisoning are not always easy to detect. Many children with lead poisoning appear and act healthy, while some symptoms may be mistaken for other illnesses such as stomach upset or flu. Because of this, lead poisoning may go undiagnosed until it is too late. However, if your children exhibit any of the following symptoms, it may be wise to have their doctor administer a blood test to be sure:
hyperactivity
listlessness or loss of energy
extreme crankiness or are very fussy
lower attention spans
lack of appetite and weight loss
trouble sleeping
unexplained stomach pains
constipation
Fortunately, lead poisoning is preventable. Parents/guardians need to be vigilant in examining their children's general environments and habits. For instance it is important for adults to regularly inspect their homes for peeling paint and clean up any loose chips immediately (especially if the paint was put on the walls before 1978). It is also important to keep the areas where children play clean and dust free. Regularly wet-wipe floors, window sills and frames, porches and other surfaces to remove lead dust. Make sure that children wash their hands often, especially after playing outside and before they eat. Wash toys, stuffed animals, bottles and pacifiers often to remove lead dust. It is also important to make sure that shoes are cleaned often to prevent bringing contaminants into the home. Playground equipment should also be examined for peeling paints, and parents are advised not to purchase cheap toys and toy jewerly imported from overseas that are sold in many dollar stores as they often contain high amounts of lead paint.
Don't bring lead dust from hobbies or work places into the home. Adults who work in construction, certain manufacturing plants and even lanscaping, etc should try to shower and change clothes and shoes before going home or getting into their car. In addition, wash work clothes separately from the family laundry.
Making sure your children are well fed is another way to combat lead poisoning. Empty stomachs absorb more lead. Foods high in iron, Vitamin C and calcium have been proven to help prevent its absorbtion, while diets high in fiber and pectin (found in apples) can help the body eliminate it. Other foods that help flush lead from the system include eggs, onions, garlic and beans.
For more information on lead poisoning check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov
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