What is lead poisoning?

• Lead is commonly found on painted surfaces in homes that were built prior to 1978.  Over the years, poorly maintained lead based paint begins to break down creating paint chips and invisible lead dust. Dust from deteriorating lead-based paint is most often the major source.
• The resulting dust from improperly remodeling or renovating a pre-1978 built home
• Bare soil in play areas and along drip lines of homes (caution regarding the location of vegetable gardens!)
• Antiques with deteriorated lead based paint
• Certain hobbies, like stained glass-making, casting lead sinkers, ceramics and those involving some artist’s paints
• Auto repair or other occupations where parents and/or household members are exposed to lead
• Folk and home remedies, cosmetics, some toys and jewelry from other countries
• Small amounts in drinking water
• 

• live in or regularly visit a house built before 1950.  This includes day care centers, preschools, or homes of a baby sitters or relatives.
• live in or visit a pre-1978 built house that has peeling, chipping, dusting or chalking paint.
• live in or visit a house built before 1978 with recent, ongoing, or planned renovation/remodeling.
• have a sibling or playmate who has or did have lead poisoning.
• frequently come into contact with an adult who has a hobby or works with lead.  Examples are construction, welding, pottery, painting, and casting ammunition.

Young children like to put their hands and other objects into their mouth. This is normal activity for a young child, therefore making them more susceptible to the ingestion of lead.  When lead is in their environment, this hand-to-mouth activity is a major reason they become poisoned. Dust containing lead on floors, window sills, toys, and other objects children put into their mouth are ingested into a child’s body. Dust can also be tracked in on people’s shoes and on the fur of animals from exterior areas onto floors and into carpeting.  Additionally, bare soil areas can be a huge source of lead exposure.  Many children eat dirt or put dirty hands into their mouth when playing outdoors.  Roadside soil can be contaminated with lead due to the emissions of leaded gasoline, which was an additive in gasoline for many years.  Lead painted structures that have been demolished or continue to exist on the property are also a common source of lead-paint exposure.  These are reasons to consider gardening sites carefully, as many plants will absorb lead from contaminated soil.

Children can be poisoned from inhaling lead dust from power washing and scraping painted surfaces.  Renovation of homes containing lead-based paint can be extremely hazardous for everyone, even pets, but especially young children and pregnant women.  Lead exposure during pregnancy can harm the unborn child.  Additionally, fans in windows blowing the dust from window sills and troughs can pose a hazard for lead dust inhalation.  Children absorb more lead than adults, and their rapidly developing brain can suffer harmful effects from even minimal lead exposure.

When lead is introduced into a young child, the body uses lead like it uses iron or calcium.  Even though the body has no use for lead, if a child does not have a diet adequate in iron and calcium rich foods, they will absorb more lead into the body, increasing their lead level and risk of other problems like anemia.  Lean meats, poultry, fish, cereals, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and dairy products are good sources of iron.  Foods that contain Vitamin C, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, help the body absorb iron.  Foods rich in calcium include dairy products such as; milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt, many fruits and vegetables, nuts, dry beans, and seafood.  Additionally, children need some fat in their diet, but a diet with too much fat actually promotes the absorption of lead…so avoid high fat foods with no nutritional value.  And last but not least, if a child has an empty stomach, they will absorb more lead.  Therefore, it is important that children have a nutritious breakfast and healthy snacks throughout the day.  Locally, the Clark County WIC Office is an excellent source for additional information regarding proper nutrition for your child.  You may contact the WIC office at 937-325-0464, or visit them at 23 W. Pleasant St. in Springfield.  If you are a New Carlisle resident, you may call 937-845-2335 or visit the New Carlisle facility at 429 W. Main St.   

• Have your child tested by their pediatrician or at the Clark County Combined Health District. Click here to for Lead Testing information.

• Check your home for chipping and peeling paint, around windows and window components, wood floors, door and door components, and worn fireplace tiles etc.
• Make sure your child has a healthy diet!
• Wash your child’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.
• Cover deteriorating lead-based paint surfaces.
• Care about maintaining lead-based paint surfaces.
• Clean your window sills and troughs, floors and other horizontal surfaces

 
• Never use a torch, high temperature heat gun, abrasive blasting, or sanding to remove lead based paint.
• CDC Lead Paint Safety Guide
• • Other organizations that help fix homes.
    • City of Springfield Housing Programs
    • Information and Referral for Clark & Champaign Counties
    • Lead Safety in Housing
    • Lead Testing Requirements Poster

CLEAT (Community Lead Education and Awareness Team) consists of members throughout the professional community that are available to share their knowledge regarding lead and assist you with any concerns regarding lead and your child. Educational sessions are available for both parent and professional groups.  Contact the health department’s lead program to schedule a training session for your staff or organization, or to locate the name of a CLEAT member available within a facility familiar to you.