Region 2

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause a range of health effects. Children six years old and younger have the greatest risk of developing lead poisoning. Adults exposed to high levels of lead, usually in the workplace, are also at risk. The frequency and severity of medical symptoms increases with the concentration of lead in the blood. Children’s blood lead levels tend to increase rapidly from 6 to 12 months of age, and tend to peak at 18 to 24 months.

Health Effects:
Lead may enter the body by accidental ingestion of lead-contaminated items or by the inhalation of lead dust. Lead is more dangerous for children because their growing bodies absorb more lead. Their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. If undetected, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from: damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems and headaches. The only way to know if your child has been poisoned by lead is to get a blood test. Adults who are poisoned may experience reproductive problems, high blood pressure and hypertension, nerve disorders, memory problems, and muscle and joint pain.

Where Lead is Found:
Lead-based paint is the main source of lead in homes. Many homes built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint. When this paint peels, chips, chalks, or cracks, the lead can become airborne. Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew, or that get a lot of wear. In addition to paint, lead may also be found in soil, household dust, drinking water, old toys and furniture, and food and liquids stored in lead-contaminated containers.

How to Prevent Lead Poisoning:
It is very important to have your child checked for lead levels in his or her blood. You should also have your home checked for lead. A paint inspection tells you the lead content of every different type of paint you have in your home; risk assessment will tell you if there are any sources of serious lead exposures, and what actions to take. To further protect your family, you should clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Wash children’s hands often, and keep children away from painted surfaces. Make sure your family eats healthy and nutritious meals, since children with good diets absorb less lead.

Lead In Children’s Toys and Jewelry

Some children’s products, such as dolls, crayons, chalk, and jewelry, may contain unsafe levels of lead. When a child puts an object containing lead in his or her mouth, the child can suffer from lead poisoning. For example, in 2003, a child became lead-poisoned from ingesting toy jewelry from a vending machine. When items like this are discovered, they are taken off the market. For a list of recalls, including recalls for products containing lead, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Toy Hazards Recall Listing, or visit their main website.

 

Lead At Shooting Ranges

The potential environmental risk is associated with the historical and continual use of lead shot and bullets at outdoor shooting ranges. An estimated 9,000 non-military outdoor ranges exist in the United States, collectively shooting millions of pounds of lead annually. Some ranges leave expended lead bullets and shot uncollected on the ground. New York has 235 shooting ranges listed in the National Registry, many of which are outdoor ranges. New Jersey has 62 listed ranges. The Best Management Practices for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges manual provides owners and operators of outdoor rifle, pistol, trap, skeet and sporting clay ranges with information on lead management at their ranges.

Lead Brochures

About Lead Poisoning	Keep Your Child Lead-Safe	Lead in Your Home	Protect Your Family From Lead During Renovation
Lead in School Drinking Water Lead and a Healthy Diet Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation