Less Contact with Lead – Less Risk for Lead Poisoning

(New Jersey) – Lead poisoning remains a serious health concern for New Jersey families. Lead is a toxic element that builds up in the blood and is stored in the bones. Over time, lead can cause serious health problems especially in young children. These health problems may never go away even after children are treated for lead poisoning (too much lead in the blood). It is important to know that there is no safe level of lead in the body for children or adults.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 25-31, 2020) reminds families to keep their loved ones from coming in contact with lead hazards before health problems develop. Lead can get into the body by breathing in or swallowing lead dust or lead particles. Lead in the body can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, slow growth and development, and hearing and speech problems. Even low levels of lead in the body can cause harm.

The seriousness of the health effects of lead exposure depends on how much lead is in the body and how long a person was in contact with the lead source(s). “Coming in contact with lead dust or lead particles during early childhood development can cause devastating effects to a child’s health and wellbeing,” says Diane Calello, MD, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine.

“Children’s hands and toys can pick up household dust or outdoor soil contaminated with lead. Crawling children are most at risk because they put everything in their mouths. Act early and get your child tested for lead between 1 and 2 years old even if they look healthy. The effects of lead can be hard to notice. A simple blood test can detect the amount of lead in the body. If the test results show too much lead in the blood, your child must get treatment. You must also find the lead sources in your home or apartment to prevent your child from coming in contact with lead again. Get your home tested by a professional.”

Lead sources can be found in our everyday environments including outside dirt. Lead-based paint is the most common source of lead. It was used in many homes built before 1978. When lead-based paint chips or cracks it makes lead dust. Young children may eat paint chips, or chew on surfaces coated with lead-based paint, such as window sills. Home or building renovations or repairs can also produce lead dust which can stay in the air and settle in food, and around the house.

Lead can be found in drinking water if the water passes through lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. Lead can’t be seen, tasted or smelled. The only way to know if there is lead in your water is to have it tested. Contact your local water authority for information about testing and identifying lead in your water.

“Adults can also develop serious health effects from contact with lead. Although most think of children when they hear the terms lead exposure or lead poisoning, many adults have high levels of lead in their blood and do not know it,” says Calello. “Lead poisoning can be easily overlooked in adults. Symptoms can appear slowly and are often similar to other health conditions.” Toxic levels of lead in adults may include high blood pressure, decreased sex drive, infertility, memory loss and difficulty concentrating, hearing and vision problems, tiredness, and irritability and mood disorder.

“Pregnant women must avoid contact with lead to protect their developing baby. Lead can pass from the mother to the unborn baby and cause very serious damage to the baby’s brain and nervous system. Even a little contact with lead can cause the baby to be born with behavior and intelligence problems.”

Children and adults may come into contact with lead through sources other than paint, soil, and water. Jobs and hobbies (police, gun instructors, recreational shooting, welders, and gunsmiths) that involve coming in contact with lead put families at risk for lead poisoning. Lead dust and particles can be carried into vehicles and inside the home on clothes, shoes, and skin. Lead can also be brought into the home through candies, spices, makeup, imported foods, and folk medicines made in other countries. Also, be careful when buying toys, jewelry, pottery, and porcelain as some are painted with lead-based paint.

The best way to prevent the harmful effects of lead exposure is to stop coming in contact with lead before it causes harm.

1. Test your home for lead.

2. Test your child for lead poisoning even if they seem healthy.

3. Remove lead hazards immediately from your home.

Lead poisoning is a serious health concern. Get help right away if you think someone was exposed to lead. Call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for medical treatment advice, 24/7. If someone is unconscious, not breathing, hard to wake up, or having a seizure, call 9-1-1.

New Jersey residents: Call (1-800-222-1222); Text (973-339-0702); Chat via website. Contact the NJ Poison Control Center for questions, emergencies, and information regarding lead or other poison-related exposure.

Help is Just a Phone Call Away! Real People. Real Answers.

Stay Connected: Facebook (@NJPIES) and Twitter (@NJPoisonCenter) for breaking news, safety tips, health advisories, etc.

Media contacts only: Alicia Gambino (gambinaa@njms.rutgers.edu), NJ Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School