I had not been aware of the problems of lead exposure in children until I lived in the Northeast, US. The area is filled with beautiful old homes built as early as the 1500s (maybe even earlier). Of course, it is with homes built much later than this that the problem still exists. Lead paint was used in the United States up until 1978 when it was finally banned (it was banned in Australia much earlier as its effects had been known in the early 1900's). Homes built before this time, then, must be tested in order to determine if there is a danger of lead poisoning. Lead may not be only in the paint of the home but also in the soil. If a home is newer than the 1960-70 era but is close to a busy highway, lead may still be in the soil.
Lead has been found to be a major part of paint on many playgrounds throughout the United States. Imagine your child playing at the local park and then (as children do) putting their hands in their mouths. Over a period of a few months this can lead to a serious build up of lead.
Other sources of lead exposure may be from mini-blinds, canned foods from countries other than the United States, and many workers coming into contact at their place of work and then taking the lead dust home on their clothing.
Lead is a problem to children primarily under the age of seven. For children under the age of three it can harm their developing nervous system and lead to many problems with attention, learning, intellectual function, and motor skills. Lead can affect a child's growth and even their social skills. Lead can even lead to death.
Families from all levels of social economic status have been affected by lead poisoning, but children from African-American families had children at risk at the level of 46% in 1984, followed by Mexican-American children and then Puerto Rican children. This may be due to these children living in substandard housing with cracking, peeling paint and/or playing in the soil rather than grassy areas.
Go To Page: 1 2
