Lead Poisoning Fact Sheet
A. Lead poisoning can cause:
- Damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, red blood cells, bones and reproductive organs
- High blood pressure
- Mental retardation, learning problems, behavior problems
During pregnancy, lead poisoning can affect the fetus. A pregnant woman could have a spontaneous abortion or the baby could be born with birth defects.
Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning than adults because of their size.
B. Lead poisoning symptoms are:
- Stomachaches and cramps
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Poor appetite
- Insomnia
More serious symptoms and damage are:
- Dizziness
- Paralysis
- Convulsions
- Loss of memory of recently learned skills (especially in kids)
C. Where do you find lead?
- Peeling or chipped paint
- Window sills and on the floor near windows
- Batteries
- Lead pipes (water pipes)
- Bullets
- Folk medicines (like greta, azarcon, pay-loo-ah)
- Food grown in contaminated soil
- Lead glazed pottery and pewter dishes
- Old abandoned cars
- Leaded gasoline and the exhaust from cars using leaded gasoline
- Lead smelters
D. How do you prevent lead poisoning?
- Frequently wash your child's hands.
- Give your children
three nutritious meals and two snacks every day, the foods should be:
- rich in calcium and iron, this prevents lead absorption.
- low in fat. Fatty foods attract chemicals, metals and other toxins.
- Always wash all fruit and vegetables before eating.
- Always wash countertops and the table before preparing food.
- Clean up chipping and peeling paint.
- Clean lead dust from window sills and the floor near windows.
- Frequently wash children's toys and pacifiers.
- Don't keep food in open cans, pewter dishes or ceramic pots.
- Leave your shoes outside or near the door, so that lead dust isn't carried in from the outside.
- If you work with metals or chemicals, you should bathe, change, and wash clothes before spending time with your family.
- Run water from the water faucet at least 30 seconds before using it, the metal deposits will go down the drain.
- Use cold water from the faucet for cooking or making formula. Hot water contains more metal deposits.
- Don't use folk
medicines that contain lead like Greta, Azarcon and Pay-loo-ah.
E. What else can you do?
- Inspect your plumbing (lead is a dull gray metal, you can scratch the pipe with a coin).
- Talk to the water utility company for more information.
- Ask your doctor or clinic for a lead poisoning blood test.