The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 310,000 U.S. children ages 1 to 5 have high levels of lead in their blood. The CDC also claims that children are exposed to lead primarily through lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in deteriorating buildings, and not frequently exposed to lead by ingesting paint from toys. “A child really has to be able to bite off, or pick off and eat, pieces of paint to be significantly exposed,” claimed Dr. Michael Shannon, a Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School pediatrician and toxicologist.
Children, along with adults, can be exposed to lead in many different ways. Some ways are: through deteriorating paint, household dust, bare soil, air, drinking water, food, ceramics, home remedies, hair dyes and other cosmetics. The biggest threats for coming in contact with lead are when you remodel an old home. The dust particles caused by the reconstruction travel and settle in the soil around the house or on furniture around the house. Clean up is a necessity when coming in contact with lead paint or lead based products. Recently, children’s toys manufactured by Mattel were recalled because of the use of lead paint. The toys were manufactured in China and all parents are encouraged to get their children’s lead levels tested.
Children under the age of 6 are much more susceptible to leads harmful effects due to their brains and central nervous system still forming. Very low levels of exposure in children under the age of 6 could cause serious problems such as: reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, and kidney damage. High levels of exposure children can become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, or even die from lead poisoning.
Here are some further sources of information on lead poisoning:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/news/?id=article.2007-08-15.0950055012&msc=S50565
http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/lead.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leadpoisoning.html