What is Lead Poisoning?

LEAD - A TOXIC METAL:

Children absorb more lead than adults and are at higher health risk. More than 1,000,000 American children may have blood lead levels needing medical attention, and more than one million children may be somewhat mentally or emotionally impaired by lead exposure. 

Acute lead poisoning is less common now than before lead's toxicity was known. Nevertheless, with higher environmental lead levels, subtle health effects from small doses are being detected. Children risk premature birth, smaller stature, and lower mental development, and adult men may have higher blood pressure. 

Airborne lead concentrations in American cities are tens of thousands of times higher than before lead mining began. 

The good new is that there are definitely things each of us can do to reduce our own exposure to lead. 

THE FACTS ABOUT LEAD POISONING:

These symptoms are sometimes overlooked by doctors and are not properly diagnosed as lead poisoning, since they are vague. 

Our children are at greatest risk as their immune systems are still in the developmental stages!

HOW TO REDUCE MY LEAD INTAKE:

1. Lead in food - After phasing out lead in gasoline, reducing lead levels in food should be our greatest health priority.  Lead intake from fresh vegetables and fruits can be reduced by thorough washing and by peeling root vegetables. Food produced close to heavy traffic or lead-emitting industries will have more lead. Fertilizers with sewage sludge added to them may boost soil lead levels - check with the supplier.  Lead in processed foods is picked up at various stages from growing to packaging. There are estimates that 13 to 22 per cent of our dietary lead intake is from lead-soldered food cans. Unfortunately, the U.S. does not regulate and test for lead in all canned foods.  Food in cans with lead soldered seams can be dangerous, particularly cans that contain acidic substances such as fruit juices, fruits and some vegetables. Imported canned goods are more likely to have lead soldered seams. Cans with round bottoms (extruded cans) are safe and do not have a seam or use lead.
2. Drinking water and plumbing - After several hours, tap water standing in pipes may dissolve unhealthy amounts of lead from pipe solder. In areas with soft, non mineralized water, run taps for 30 seconds or until cold before using water to drink or cook. Request lead-free solder when plumbing is installed or repaired, and don't drink water from the hot water tap, as it has higher levels of dissolved metals.
3. Soil and Dust/Dirt - The closer your home is to heavy automobile traffic or to lead-emitting industries, the more lead is deposited in household dust and in gardens. Every cigarette smoked adds a measurable amount of lead to household dust.  Regular damp dusting, wet mopping, and cleaning, especially near windows and entrances, help control lead dust. 

Keep young children from playing near traffic or lead-emitting industries. Ensure they have a frequent, thorough hand-washing. Sucking a finger with city dust on it can add a serious dose of lead to a child's daily intake. 

If you suspect your garden has elevated lead deposits from traffic or industry, have soil tested before growing food. 

Watch for peeling exterior paint, so that paint flakes don't contaminate soil around buildings. 

4. Paint and home renovations (Dirt and Dust) - In the 1970's and earlier, houseplants contained as much as 50 per cent lead!!! Most household paints contained lead prior to 1979.  Children should be watched in homes and day care centers to prevent their swallowing paint chips or chewing painted surfaces, including toys and older cribs. 

Test older cribs for lead based paints before purchasing or using as children may chew paint from the railings & ingest lead!
Children should be kept away from sanding and paint removal (during renovations) in older houses, and adults should wear filter masks approved for use with toxic dusts. Burning off paint or using mechanical sanders boost your lead exposure.

5. Safe china and ceramics - Almost all American and Canadian ceramics makers meet lead safety standards for glazes. In some imported ceramics from Mexico, China, Italy, Spain, India, Korea, Macao, Pakistan, Thailand etc., however, heavy lead leaching has caused severe lead poisoning.  Before buying imported ceramics to be used for food and drink ask (1) the supplier, (2) the maker, or (3) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) about the product's lead safety.
6. Furniture, toys and antiques - Imported items such as these often contain lead. Older items which have been handed down from one family to another (ie., painted cribs & toys) also have been found to contain lead.
7. Lead Crystal Glasses, decanters & pitchers - These sources of lead can produce situations that are extremely hazardous to your health! Acidic juices & wines should never be stored in these items for extended periods of time.

8. Printed materials - Newspapers, magazines, & plastic bread bags often contain lead-based inks which can be harmful to children, if chewed. Avoid using these materials to wrap food. 
9. PVC Mini-blinds - These inexpensive plastic blinds (about 1" wide) should not be used in homes, especially with pregnant women and children under 6 years of age. Do not allow children to come in contact with these blinds.  Health and Welfare Canada reports that these blinds have unacceptable levels of surface lead through production and airborne particulate. These blinds have also been found to contain lead in their vinyl formulation (used as a UV ray inhibitor). 


Be sure to clean any mini-blinds periodically with TSP (Trisodium phosphate) cleaner to remove surface lead. (TSP is available at your local hardware store.) . 

Bath Tub Glazes - Test your bath tub glaze, especially if it's old!  There have been recent reports of acute lead poisoning in young children from leaded bath tub glazes via drinking bath water.  Always bathe children in fresh warm water. Never re-heat cold bath water that has been sitting in the tub as dissolved lead will accumulate in tubs with a leaded glaze.

10. Candle Wicks - Candles made with LEAD CORE WICKS (used to support the wick upright & make the candle last longer) can release lead when burned. The lead can be absorbed by inhalation.  Wicks with tin or zinc cores or made simply with cotton do not pose a health hazard - unless the candle is burned in an unsafe manner. 

Candles imported from China were most likely to have lead core wicks, though candles made in Canada, United States, Mexico & Taiwan were also found to have lead core wicks.  Candles with lead cores should be discarded.  Check with retailers before purchasing candles.  If the retailer doesn't have the information, shop elsewhere.

Jewelry - Inexpensive children's jewelry (trinkets, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, metallic hair accessories and "big heavy" finger rings) can contain high amounts of lead, which poses a risk if toddlers, young children or teens suck or chew on it. A survey of inexpensive jewelry - a range of items costing less than $20 - found 70% contained lead!  If your child is likely to chew or suck on jewelry which contains lead, discard it immediately.

11. Children's Toys (soft vinyl PVC products) - Health Canada's Advisory is concerned with soft vinyl plastic (PVC - poly vinyl chloride) toys that could be sucked or chewed on by a very young child for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis, hereby exposing the child to surface lead, if any.  While some of these products were found to contain lead, the majority of the tested products were found to not have extractable lead that exceeded the international standard of 90 ppm lead. 

The international standard (European Standard EN-71) is a limit of 90 ppm releasable lead in children's toys. Any level above this is considered dangerous! 
12. Ceramic Tile - Some glazes on ceramic tile (floor, wall & ceiling tiles) were found to contain lead. Glazes were generally made with white lead and mixed with finely ground metallic oxides that provided the color. Colors included yellow from lead and antimony! These tiles were produced from many different countries around the world.!