Parentpedia

What Experts Say

Lead-based paint may have gone out with the Brady Bunch in the late '70s, but it's still a major health threat for young children. One quarter of U.S. homes with children under age 6 still have substantial levels of lead in paint, dust, soil, and plumbing.

When a child eats or breathes contaminated paint chips, dust, or soil, lead can build up in their bodies, causing irreversible harm -- including behavioral problems, learning disabilities, lowered IQ, anemia, or even death -- even if he or she seems to be the picture of health.

Children are more vulnerable than adults. For one, they?re notorious for exploring the world hand-to-mouth style, making it more likely that they?ll ingest lead if it's present. What's more, their small bodies do a better job at absorbing the stuff, at the very time when their brains are busy developing.

No amount of lead in your blood is considered safe. Red flags for children include low-income households, older homes, and older homes where renovation is underway.

You'll find different opinions on lead testing for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaves it to state authorities to set screening guidelines, to avoid unnecessary testing in situations where risks are low. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening via a blood test for all Medicaid-eligible children. The AAP also recommends that screening be considered for all other children, so be sure to discuss this with your pediatrician. The ideal times to test are at age 1 and age 2 -- earlier if exposure is suspected.

Depending on the situation, some experts recommend covering or sealing lead paint instead of removing it (unless it?s a confined to a door, for example, that can simply be disposed of). This is because lead-based paint removal is hazardous too. The process can kick up dust, fumes, and chips that can be difficult to contain and must be handled with extreme care. Do-it-yourself lead-testing kits may not be 100 percent reliable. For these reasons, don?t try testing for or removing lead-based paint on your own.

To find professionals to do home testing and lead removal, contact your local and/or state housing authority or lead poisoning prevention program or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. Contractors should be licensed or certified by the state or trained by the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you live in a home with lead paint, take steps to minimize exposure until you've dealt with the situation. Clean up loose paint, chips, and dust immediately with a high phosphorous cleaning solution and cloths or a mop (then throw them out). Wash your child's hands frequently, especially before eating and sleeping. Feed her a nutritious diet, which can help the body absorb lead better. Move out while lead-based paint removal is underway.

Be on the lookout for other sources of lead such as batteries, old painted toys, old plumbing, mini-blinds, and imported pottery. For a current list of alerts, go to the National Safety Council's website .

Lastly, check for potential risks for lead-based paint exposure wherever your child spends time, such a daycare center or the home of a neighbor or relative.