Lead Exposure is Still a Concern, Especially to Kids in Low-Income Environments

There is something quite magical about watching your baby explore your home—it makes you see everything in a new light. You might become particularly aware of dangers you've never noticed before, like sharp corners or uncovered outlets (and that's where baby-proofing comes in). Something you might not have thought to look for, though, is lead paint, products, or fixtures. Lead is incredibly harmful, and it can be sometimes be found in homes built before 1978, certain water pipes, or toys, jewelry, and more.

Lead exposure is associated with damage to the immune and reproductive systems, as well as blood disorders.事实上,铅污染的有害影响ed federal, state, and local institutions to impose regulations to lessen its potential risks.

Despite these efforts to mitigate the issue (which have been in effect since the 1970s), a new study shows problems still persist. The study, published in theJournal of the American Medical Association Pediatricsin September 2021,notes that children in low-income housing are still exposed to the substance at a high rate.The findings show that more work remains to help keep all children safe from the consequences of lead exposure.

Experts note that there is no safe blood lead level for children, and though many measures have been enacted, more work still needs to be done.

“These results are significant because, despite tremendous progress that has been made over the past 50 years in eliminating lead from common sources, children are still being exposed to legacy sources of lead in their environments,” statesMarissa Hauptman, MD, MPH, FAAP, lead author of the study and associate director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Environmental Health Center.

Keeping Kids Safe From Lead

政府和环境机构长期以来再保险cognized the danger posed by blood lead levels in children.

“Lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and speech delays," says Deanna Durica, the director of the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program at the Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois. "It may take time for these issues to develop for the child and affect them even after the source of lead exposure has been identified and remediated."

Studies have also found that exposure to lead can contribute to an elevated risk of cancer.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched aLead Poisoning Prevention programin 1991. Their website also provides information on a number of initiatives taken to curb lead exposure.

These acts and numerous others made steps in the right direction to protect children and adults from interaction with lead. In some lower-income areas, however, they are not enough.

“Children who are African American and who live in low-income families are disproportionately more likely to face housing inequity," saysPaul Allwood, PhD, MPH, Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch Chief, at the National Center for Environmental Health. "These populations are less likely to have access to quality, safe housing. This inequity makes these populations more susceptible to lead poisoning from living in homes that contain lead-based paint, lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures.”

Taking Proactive Steps

Online resources offer an abundance of information on the toxic dangers of lead. Parents can take proactive steps to help their children. This can include having any home built before 1978 checked for lead-based paint or fixtures, as well as testing residential water for lead. You can also lessen the spread of contaminated dust by removing or wiping dirt off of shoes before entering the home. Finally, it's important to steer clear of any toys, jewelry, or cosmetics that contain lead.

Experts note that what a child eats can make a difference, too. “Nutrition also plays a role," Dr. Hauptman says. "If children have iron deficiency, they are going to absorb more lead from their gastrointestinal tracts than children without iron deficiency."Foods such as beans, chicken and turkey, egg yolks, and more containhigh iron levels. Parents should reach out to their child’s doctor with any concerns or questions about lead exposure or testing.

However, the most helpful measure a parent can take is stopping exposure before it starts. “Children can experience harm at any blood lead level. The focus should always be on preventing exposure in the first place,” Dr. Allwood concludes.