HHS HealthBeat (April 24, 2009)

No Lead

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

Lead-based paint has been prohibited in the United States since 1978, because lead poisoning can cause brain damage, especially in young children. That said, a lot of homes still have lead-based paint on the walls.

Dr. Chinaro Kennedy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at that in a study of children in New York City. The city has a lot of older homes, with exposed surfaces that could have lead-based paint.

Where is the lead most commonly found?

[Dr. Chinaro Kennedy speaks] ``On the walls and on the window sills. Also, in the dust that lurks in the soil or on the floors from the paint that chips off the walls.’’

Dr. Kennedy says people in older homes with lead-based paint should have the paint removed by an expert.

The study is in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

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

Last revised: April, 27 2009