HHS HealthBeat (January 30, 2007)

Lead hurts

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Evidence of the damage that lead can do to a kid keeps growing. One study finds kids who had higher blood-lead levels during childhood seem to have more accidental injuries.

Amit Bhattacharya of the University of Cincinnati surveyed teens. The work in the Journal of Adolescent Health was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Bhattacharya says injuries were more common among teens who had higher blood lead levels as kids. Falls, for instance:

"Falls – loss of balance – as the leading event to the injury was significantly related to historical blood lead levels. That accounted for 46 percent of the injuries." (11 seconds)

Bhattacharya says these teens will have to be careful, but everyone should be wary of the risks of lead.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 30 2007