Get the lead out : intervention : how to lower blood lead levels in children PDF
Preview Get the lead out : intervention : how to lower blood lead levels in children
I UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKS GET THE LEAD OUT ILLINOIS DEPOSITORY Ml 1 2002 UNIVERSITYOFILUNOI INTERVENTIO]^urbana_champaig How to lower DEPOSITORY blood lead levels in children rJUL 1 1 2002 Illinois Department of Public Health WHAT IS LEAD POISONING? Lead poisoning is a condition caused mostoftenbyeating lead paintchips orbreathingoreating lead dust. Lead is especiallyharmful to infants and children 6years ofage and youngerbecause theirsmallbodies absorb lead moreeasilythan an adult's does. Lead poisoningcan slow a child's developmentand cause learning and behaviorproblems. Even small amounts oflead can damageyourchild'sbrain, kidneys and stomach. KNOW THE SOURCES OF LEAD. Intervention Your child—renmaybe exposed to lead from How to lower blood lead • Peeling orchippingpaintin levels in children homesbuiltbefore 1978. • Dustfrom sanding orremoving old paintand wallpaper. • Soilnear a majorhighwayor industry thatuses lead, or around an olderhome withchipping out- sidepaint. • Old waterpipes made oflead or newer fixtures that containlead solder. • Food grown incontaminated soil or stored inhandmade pottery or opened cans. GET THE LEAD • Bullets and fishing sinkers and hobbies thatuse lead, such as OUT ceramics and stained glass. LelS.q WHAT CAW DO TO REDUCE I MY CHILD'S EXPOSURE? Wash up • Have childrenwash theirhands and faces after theyplayoutside andbefore they eat. • Wash infant's and toddler's toys often. Throw away toy—s painted with lead-based paint usually those made in anothercountry. Eat well-balanced meals • Giveyour child foods high iniron and calcium. Foods such as lean meat, eggs, greens, tomatoes, potatoes, and fruits and fruit juices help keep lead out ofyour child's system. Limitfoods with fator oil, which Use cold water can keep lead inyourchild's sys- tem. Limitfried foods and Olderhomes mayhave lead remove the skinfrom chicken. plumbing pipes thatputlead into Do notstore food in opencans or the water. Newerhomes may have lead solderconnecting pipes. pottery. • Run thewater from the cold water tap fora few minutesbefore using itfor cooking or drinking. • Donotuse waterfrom the hot water tap forcooking, drinking or preparing infant formula. Check yourhome • Look around yourhouse for chipping and peeling paint and paint dust. Checkwindow sills, around windows, doorways and woodwork. Check outside the house forpaintchips. See your doctor • To removepaintchips and dust from around the outside of the • Takeyour child to a doctor for a house, hose offporches, side- physical exam. walks, driveways and the sides of buildings. Scrub with a stiffbrush • Have your child screened each orbroom and soapywater; then year forlead. rinse as clean as possible. Pick up and throw away paintchips. HOUSEKEEPING HINTS SCREENING FOR LEAD • Use a cleaning product to clean up loose paintchips around All children ages 6 months through6 windows, doors orwoodwork. years shouldbe assessed every year Throw awayall cleaning cloths. for their riskoflead poisoning. Illinois state law requires all children • Place duct tape over loose paintor entering day care, nursery school, plaster for temporary covering. preschool or kindergarten to provide Callyour local health department proofofablood lead test or an or the Illinois Departmentof assessment. Public Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for For more information, call the Illinois information onsafe methods to re- Department ofPublic Health's move paint, plaster orwallpaper. Childhood Lead Poisoning PreventionProgram at217-782-0403 • Coverhard-to-clean surfaces with or 800-545-2200 orTTY 800-547-0466. contactpaper. • Wet dustand wetmop often to remove lead dustin the house. Use a clean cloth or mop dampened with a cleaner. Washrags separately from other laundry. • Throw out old newspapers,bread bags and comicbooks. These are sometimes printed with lead ink. • Keep workclothes ofan adult whoworks in a lead industry or uses lead in a hobby separate from clothes ofother family members. Wash these clothes separately. Of the 1.2 million children aged 6 years and younger in Illinois, approxi- mately 170,000 children have blood lead levels that are too high. Because lead is found everywhere, city, suburban and rural children are all at risk if they breathe in lead dust or eat lead paint and dust. This brochure provides information on lead poisoning and describes steps you can take to reduce your child's exposure to lead. Call your doctor, your local health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 217-782-0403 or 800-545-2200 or TTY 800-547-0466 for information on having your home inspected for lead and removing lead hazards safely. HAVE YOUR CHILD TESTED FOR LEAD POISONING. ALL CHILDREN AGES MONTHS THROUGH YEARS 6 6 SHOULD BE ASSESSED FOR LEAD POISONING EVERYYEAR. Forfurtherinformation,contactthe Illinois DepartmentofPublicHealth's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 800-545-2200 217-782-0403 TTY 800-547-0466 Illinois Department of PrintedbytheAuthorityoftheStateofIllinois P.O.#371344 20M 9/00 Public Health 535 W. Jefferson St. Springfield, IL 62761 PrintedonRecycledPaper
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