Is Your Child at Risk for Lead Poisoning?

October 2007

The good news is that the percentage of American children with dangerously high lead levels in their bodies has dropped from 88 percent to 1.6 percent from the 1970s to the mid-2000s. The bad news is that 310,000 kids in the United States are still hurt by lead poisoning every year. Even worse, the dangerous exposure to lead often comes from inside the home.

The majority of household lead exposure comes from window sills and other painted surfaces. The risk of exposure is heightened in older houses and apartments, many of which received several coats of lead paint before the toxin was banned from paint in 1978.

Opening and closing windows in the home causes lead paint to breakdown into dust which then travels into a child’s system and into their blood. Children get lead paint dust or chips on their hands from playing near windows. Anyone with a toddler or preschooler knows that young children love to put everything in their mouths, especially their hands.

Toys with lead paint have also been identified as a risk. Mattel recalled millions earlier this year due in part to their Chinese producers that illegally used paint containing the toxin. Last week they added 55,000 toy boats to their continuing recall. Along with Mattel, retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and many discount dollar stores have also recalled toys and jewelry for dangerous lead content.