Did you know October 20-26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week?
The County is committed to helping parents reduce their child’s exposure to lead and prevent serious health effects.
A child with lead poisoning can have trouble learning, paying attention and behaving well.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly a quarter of a million children living in the United States have blood lead levels high enough to cause significant damage to their health. There are no known safe blood lead levels. Blood lead levels as low as 5mcg/dL have been known to cause serious health problems to children, including a drop in their “IQ”.
According to Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, Health Officer of the County of San Bernardino, lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 and lead-contaminated dust and soil are the main sources of lead exposure for children in the County. Children get lead poisoned by ingesting lead-contaminated dust, paint chips from deteriorating lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated soil.
Other sources of lead include lead dust brought home on parents’ clothes, certain imported ceramic pottery, painted objects, traditional home remedies, and imported candies and food products. Additionally, parents engaging in activities that require contact with lead products, such as soldering, making stained glass, and handling bullets or fishing sinkers, can place children at risk.
The only way to know for sure if a child has lead poisoning is to have the child’s blood tested for lead. If your child is 1 to 6 years old, talk to your doctor about testing your child for lead at his or her next visit. Fortunately, lead poisoning is entirely preventable.
For more information, call the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, at 1-800-722-3777.