Pasadena Public Health Recognizes National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

PASADENA, Calif.- Pasadena Public Health Department's (PPHD) recognizes National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Sunday, Oct. 20 to Saturday, Oct. 26, to raise local awareness and help protect children from lead exposure. Lead poisoning in children is largely avoidable by focusing on prevention, community education, and testing.

Children younger than 6 years old are more likely to be exposed to lead poisoning because they have a higher chance of placing objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths. Lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems. Children who experience these health issues may have lower IQs, decreased ability to pay attention, and underperform in school.

Any amount of lead exposure in a child is unsafe. A blood test is the best way to find out if your child has lead poisoning, since there are no initial visible signs or symptoms.

"Lead poisoning can be detrimental to young children's health and development," said Acting Health Officer, Dr. Parveen Kaur. "Parents and caregivers should ensure that their child's environment is free of lead, as well as talk to their child's health care provider about blood lead testing."

The risk of lead exposure is higher for children in neighborhoods with older housing or homes located near current or prior industrial sites. Families living in these neighborhoods experience a higher burden of lead exposure than other members of the community.

Tips to prevent lead poisoning:

• Talk to your child's healthcare provider about getting a blood lead test. All children who are at risk for lead exposure should be tested for lead poisoning.
• Eliminate any lead hazards where children live, learn, and play. See the list below for common exposures.
• If you use or work with lead, ensure to store contaminated work clothes and shoes at the worksite in closed containers or plastic bags with warning labels. Wash work clothing at the worksite or through a commercial laundry service.
• If your business uses or works with lead, ensure that you are taking the appropriate measures to protect staff and their families to prevent lead from going home.

Parents and caregivers of young children are encouraged to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Testing for Lead Poisoning in Children website.

In California, children can be exposed to lead by:

• Living or spending time in a house/building built before 1978.
• Migrating from countries where lead exposure may be more common.
• Ingesting lead-contaminated dust, paint chips from deteriorating lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated soil.
• Ingesting lead dust brought home on parents' or caregiver's work clothes.
• Ingesting lead on certain imported ceramic pottery, painted objects, traditional home remedies, traditional cosmetics, and imported spices, candies, and other food products.
• Doing or being near activities that involve lead products such as soldering, making stained glass, and handling bullets or fishing sinkers.

For more information on preventing childhood lead poisoning, visit the CDC's Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning website.

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