Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

How do I know if my child has been lead poisoned?

What does lead do to my child?

What is a “normal” lead level?

How does lead get into a child’s body?

How do I know if my child has been lead poisoned?

The only way to know is to have a doctor or clinic do a blood test on your child.    At first, most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick.

What does lead do to my child?

Lead is a neurotoxin that affects the brain and nervous system.  Studies show   that children with high lead levels as toddlers may have difficulty learning to read and have behavior problems when they are in elementary school.

What is a “normal” lead level?

There is no “normal” lead level.  The human body does not need lead so any lead may be harmful.  Ug/dl is how lead is measured in the body.  Currently an “acceptable” level of lead in children is less than 10ug/dl.  A level below 5ug/dl is desirable.

How does lead get into a child’s body?

Children ingest, or eat, lead:

u by putting things with lead dust into their mouths

u by eating lead contaminated non-food items like paint chips or soil, and

u by playing in dusty environments where lead dust gets on their fingers then into

     the mouth.

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for additional information.