Young children, instinctively and curiously, put things in their mouths, and while most are relatively harmless, some can be dangerous. With lead, there is no safe level in a young child’s bloodstream. Exposure to lead by young children can cause damage that may last a lifetime.
Public and private organizations, along with area pediatricians are working to eradicate lead poisoning. Several one-stop services — Lead-Safe and the Toledo Lucas County Health Department (TLCHD) — help families seek out and address the threat of lead exposure in their daily lives.
Lead removal: a recent practice
Lead poisoning prevention has only been a part of our society since the 1970s. Lead screenings began in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) defined the blood lead reference value (BLRV) for children as a BLL (blood lead level) at or above 10 μg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). Those levels have since come down significantly, and what is considered “safe” to children, today, the BLRV is 3.5 μg/dL.
“I’m seeing significantly fewer cases (of tests above the threshold) today,” said Dr. Wendy Wexler, a pediatrician based in Oregon, Ohio. “I haven’t had to admit a kid (for lead poisoning) in years.”
Symptoms to last a lifetime
Lead exposure in children can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, delaying growth and development, creating learning and behavior problems and hearing and speech problems, possibly causing lower IQs, decreased ability to pay attention and underperformance in school. There is strong evidence that exposure to lead as a child can cause lifelong damage.
The Ohio Department of Health explains that children exposed to lead can exhibit a variety of symptoms (many of which mirror symptoms of other ailments as well), including irritability, loss of appetite and weight loss, sluggishness and fatigue,abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, hearing loss and seizures.
Outdated buildings still prevalent in Toledo
In Ohio, a child’s threat of exposure to lead comes mainly from the housing stock. More than 73,000 housing units in Toledo and Lucas County were built before 1978 and are likely to contain some lead-based paint on interior and/or exterior surfaces, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Approximately 160,000 Ohio children from birth to 6 years old are screened for lead poisoning every year, and the department said that today less than 3 percent are found to have confirmed lead levels at 5 μg/ dL or greater.
Children can be screened through the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department’s (TLCHD) Lead Program, by calling 419-213-2013. Pediatricians will do the screening as well. “We screen every child we see at age 1 and 2,” Dr. Wexler said. “Kids aren’t as active before the age of 1 and are less likely to be putting things into their mouths.” She said, children who live in older houses, or have parents working in factories, can have risks you might not consider.
If your child’s blood test confirms a lead level of 3.5 μg/dL or higher, the TLCHD is notified, and an investigation is initiated. The organization will work with the family to lower the child’s lead levels as quickly as possible; if the level is 10 μg/dL or higher, TLCHD first contacts the homeowner or landlord, directing them to remediate existing lead problems.
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Make your life lead-free
There are a variety of methods for eradicating lead at home.
- Be careful of what kids are into – if they’re crawling, watch what they pick up or bring in. Wipe and remove everyone’s shoes when entering the home.
- Wash kids’ hands frequently. Make your home lead-proof – if you’re planning renovations (especially in a home built before 1978), use contractors certified by the Environmental Protection Agency
- If you are renting – your unit must have a Lead-Safe Certificate (which must be provided to you by the owner)
- Test the paint and dust in your home – contact the TLCHD
- Keep children away from any recalled toys and toy jewelry and discard the items
Screenings for High Risk Children
Ohio law requires blood lead screening for “high-risk” children. In Toledo, a high-risk child is considered someone who:
- Lives in or visits a house or facility built before 1978 with recent, ongoing or planned renovation or remodeling (including a daycare center, preschool or home of a babysitter or relative)
- Lives in or visits a house that has peeling, chipping, dusting or chalking paint
- Has a sibling or playmate who has or did have lead poisoning
- Frequently comes in contact with an adult who has a hobby or works with lead (construction, welding, pottery, painting and casting ammunition, for example)
- Or any child living in one of these high-risk Toledo / Lucas County zip codes: 43412, 43445, 43504, 43528, 43537, 43542, 43558, 43560, 43571, 43604, 43605, 43606, 43607, 43608, 43609, 43610, 43611, 43612, 43613, 43614, 43615, 43616, 43620, 43623.
