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The
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Lead Exposure
Lead is a dangerous and pervasive poison that damages virtually every system in the body. Because lead is harmful to the developing brain and nervous system, exposure to lead is especially dangerous to fetuses and young children. Lead in a young child's system hinders neurological development and can lower intelligence levels. The Centers for Disease Control says lead poisoning is the most common and devastating environmental disease affecting young children. Lead poisoning is one of the most common public health problems for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead poisoning also remains the foremost preventable disease of childhood. The primary cause of childhood lead poisoning is the ingestion of deteriorated lead-based paint (LBP) and lead contaminated dust and soil inside and outside the home. Lead contaminated drinking water is another possible source, which research has shown can add up to about 20% of the total lead exposure. Children can ingest lead directly by eating "sweet tasting" paint chips or by ingesting lead contaminated house dust and soil during normal hand to mouth exploratory activities. A recent study has found that blood lead levels as low as 10 ug/dL(micrograms per deciliter) cause a 7 point reduction in a child's IQ compared to children with blood lead levels of 1 ug/dL. Exposure to lead can also decrease hearing and growth, reduce attention span, and cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems which can lead to learning problems in school. Children are at greater risk
from exposure of lead due to: 1) their vulnerability to damage because their bodies and nervous systems are still developing; 2) frequent hand-to-mouth activity brings a child into greater contact with lead in the environment, especially in lead dust and soil; 3) their absorption and retention of a larger percentage of ingested lead per unit of body weight than adults, which increases the toxic effects of the lead. When one adds poverty, poor nutrition, ignorance of the dangers of possible lead contamination, and uninformed or inadequate health care, the problem is increased for these children. Higher lead levels can permanently damage the kidney, cause seizures, coma and even death. Children who suffer from low-level lead poisoning do not display obvious symptoms and it is virtually impossible to diagnose without a blood lead test. Blood screening can be obtained by calling your local health department or regular physician. Usually there is no charge for this service. The effects of lead poisoning are long term and may be irreversible. Clearly, lead hazards must be identified and controlled before children are poisoned. To protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil, Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, also known as Title X. Section 1018 of this law directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require the disclosure of known information on LBP and LBP hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978. According to EPA, about three quarters of the nation's housing stock built be fore 1978 contains lead-based paint. Most LBP hazards are caused by poor maintenance, paint deterioration, or improperly performed renovation, remodeling, and repainting projects. There are several ways to
determine if you have a lead hazard in your home. You can: 1) hire an inspector to check your home for lead ($250 to $800 per house); 2) perform self testing by collecting water, paint, dust, or soil samples yourself and having them analyzed at a laboratory (Approximately $10-$17 per sample); 3) test for lead using a home test kit that turns a specific color in the presence of lead. The color indicator home test kits are somewhat limiting because they are not accurate at low levels. For more information on collecting samples for lab analysis, call the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) at 828-251-6104. Potential new home buyers and Realtors may be interested in Lead Inspection Kits, which are available though Clean Water Lead Testing (828) 251-6800. Once you have established if your home has a lead hazard, many abatement options are available - some as simple as practicing good housekeeping procedures and performing periodic monitoring. Currently, the EQI is researching various abatement methods with the desired result of assisting the homeowner on minimizing abatement costs while still eliminating LBP hazards. In 1993, EQI teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund in California to do research to determine if leaded brass faucets were in the best health interests of consumers. Because of this research, most of the major faucet manufacturers in the US agreed to remove lead from their products. For the same reason, submersible pump manufacturers agreed to remove lead from their products. Lead leaching into tap water from water faucets has been isolated as a significant source of lead contamination in the household water supply. Federal regulations require that purchasers of pre-1978 housing be given a ten-day opportunity to conduct an inspection for the presence of lead-based paint hazards. The EQI is currently conducting research on lead exposure from valves and water meters . What can you do to protect
your family if you suspect high lead levels in your home?
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