Lead Screening and Your Child

Does Lead Affect Your Health?

Lead can be harmful to anyone. However, children under the age of six are at greater risk. Their bodies easily absorb lead. This can be bad for their brains and other organs and systems. Certain childhood behaviors, such as chewing on non-food items like paint chips or dirt, can lead to lead poisoning. This could lead to very serious illnesses, such as:

Speech, language and behavioral problems
Learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder (ADD)
Behavior problems

What is Lead?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Lead is a natural element that does not break down in the environment and is very hard to clean up
At least 4 million households have children living in them that are exposed to high levels of lead
Identification and elimination of major sources of lead exposure is key to preventing lead toxicity
Children with signs of clumsiness, agitation, or decreased activity and drowsiness may be showing signs of central nervous system (CNS) involvement that may rapidly proceed to vomiting, stupor, and convulsions

There is no safe level of lead

Screening is recommended if:

You live in or often visit a house or apartment built before 1978
You live in or often visit a house or apartment that is being remodeled or is having paint removed
They have a sibling or playmate who has or has had lead poisoning
They live with anyone who works where lead may be found or has a hobby that uses lead
They live near an active lead field, battery recycling plant or other industry likely to release lead
They chew on or eat non-food items like paint chips or dirt

Your primary care physician (PCP) should:

Perform a lead blood test on children 12 - 24 months old
Screen children between the ages of 2 - 6 years old
Ask you questions about your child's risk for lead poisoning at each visit from 12 - 24 months of age

Sources:

National Institutes of Health - Lead.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Lead Prevention Program. Retrieved June 17, 2019
Pediatrics Pub - Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity. Retrieved May 22, 2019
American Academy of Pediatrics - Lead Exposure in Children. Retrieved June 17, 2019
American Academy of Pediatrics - Where We Stand: Lead Screening. Retrieved September 9, 2021