Edgecombe County Environmental Health

Lead Poisoning

What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning is a serious and preventable illness caused by swallowing or breathing too much lead. Even small amounts of lead paint flakes or leaded dust can be harmful in the body.

Who Can Get Lead Poisoning?

Anyone, but lead is most dangerous for children under six years of age. Lead can even pass from the blood of a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. Lead poisoning can cause serious damage to the body (specifically the brain) by absorbing lead through the skin or by swallowing.

What Are The Symptoms Of Lead Poisoning?

There are usually no signs of lead poisoning or, when they appear, they may be mistaken for the symptoms of flu or other illnesses.

Early symptoms may include:

Headaches
Stomachaches
Tiredness
Crankiness
Constipation
Poor appetite
Nausea

Find out about lead poisoning early. Low-level lead poisoning can slow a child’s development and cause learning and behavioral problems. At higher levels, lead can damage the brain, kidneys and nervous system. It can sometimes lead to death.

What Causes Lead Poisoning?

Lead-based paint in older homes, built between before 1950, is the main cause of lead poisoning in children. Older furniture and painted toys may have lead paint. You children put everything into their mouths, including flakes of paint and painted objects. Burning wood and home-improvement projects that include removing paint can create harmful dust and fumes.

Lead in drinking water usually comes from lead pipes and solder in home plumbing. Before 1988, copper pipes were joined with lead solder. As the lead in the plumbing wears away, it gets into the water. Water that has not been used for more than six (6) hours is likely to contain more lead than water from a tap that has recently been used. Hot water absorbs more lead from plumbing than cold water.

Lead in dust and dirt may be found where lead-based paints have flaked or washed off old buildings and fences. Lead fumes from auto exhaust and lead smelters fall to the ground and get tracked into the home. Sometimes workers are exposed to lead dust in industries, such as battery recycling plants and bring lead dust home on clothing, skin, and hair.

Improperly glazed pottery and dishes, usually made in foreign countries, may be harmful if used as food or beverages containers.

Printed Paper, such as magazines, newspapers, and comics, often contains lead in the ink and can be harmful to children who chew on paper. Burning printed paper can lead dust and fumes.

Other possible sources of lead are:

Antique pewter
Fishing sinkers
Bullets
Car batteries
Folk medicines (such as greta, azarcon,pay-loo-ah, ghasard and kandu)
Painted jewelry
Curtain weights
Stain glass solder
Artist paints

TESTING FOR LEAD POISONING

ALL children from the 9 months to 6 years should have their blood tested for lead by their doctor, clinic, or local health department. The good news is that lead poisoning is preventable.

The Edgecombe County Health Department has the resources available in terms of trained staff that is experienced and knowledgeable in the area of lead. A nurse at the health department will conduct a simple fingerstick to test for the presence of lead in the blood. A second test is done if the child’s screening test shows that lead may be a problem. A nurse will ask about your child’s habits, behavior and health.

An environmental health specialist will visit your home to find out where the child is getting the lead. You will be shown to protect your children from lead hazards.

LEAD POISONING DOs & DON’Ts

DO:

Wash your child’s hands and face often.

Keep your child’s fingernails cleaned and trimmed.

Wash toys daily.

Feed children three meals and two or three snacks daily. Include foods high in iron and calcium. *See List Below.

Clean floors, walls, windows and window sills with a cleaning agent. Change rinse water often.

Make sure children play in safe, grassy areas.

Have your child tested for lead poisoning at your doctor office or local health department. Keep follow-up appointments.

*Feed Children Food High in Calcium and Iron:

Iron:

Beef, Pork, Deer, Veal, Shrimp, Tuna, Clams, Iron-rich cereals, cooked dried beans, peas.

Calcium:

Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Canned Salmon, Green leafy vegetables (collards, spinach, broccoli).

Don’t:

Don’t let your child play in bare soil or eat dirt.
Don’t let your child put toys or small objects in his or her mouth.
Don’t burn painted boards, newspaper, colored paper or magazines in woodstove or fireplace.
Don’t vacuum paint chips or dust. Always damp mop or wipe.
Don’t use hot tap water when preparing infant formula and cooking. Always use cold water that has run for a few minutes.
Don’t let your child chew on painted surfaces, woodwork or paint chips.
Don’t let your child play with batteries or items used in hobbies such as stained glass or furniture refinishing.