Lead Poisoning and Human Health
...furniture (especially those marked “Made in Hong Kong). • Imported lead-glazed pottery and leaded crystal. Also imported plastic like mini blinds and even the plates that some entrée dinners are stored in. • Folk remedies like azarcon and pay-loo-ah • Cosmetics like kohl and kajal • Lead smelters/welder • Hobbies that expose participants to lead. These include making pottery or stained glass, refinishing furniture, home repair, and using indoor firing ranges. When participants take part in such activities they may inadvertently expose children to lead residue that is on their clothing or on scrap material. • Newspapers, magazines and other printed material using color. There are two diagnosis of lead poisoning that occurs: acute lead poisoning and chronic lead poisoning. Acute lead poisoning occurs when a large amount of lead is taken into the body over a short period of time. Chronic lead poisoning occurs when small amounts of lead are taken in over a long period of time. Chronic lead poisoning is the most common form of lead poisoning, and is usually found in children. The higher the level of lead in a child’s blood, and the longer this level remains, the greater the chance is for ill effects. Lead poisoning occurs when a person swallows or inhales lead in any form. New evidence suggests that lead may be harmful to children even at low levels that were once thought to be safe. The risk of damage rises as blood levels of lead increases. However, the symptoms of chronic lead poisoning take time to develop. Children can appear healthy despite having high levels of lead in their blood. Lead can damage almost every system in the human body, and it can also cause hypertension. The result can cause: nervous system and kidney damage; learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence; speech, language and behavioral problems; poor muscle coordination; decreased muscle and bone growth; and hearing damage. Lead is even more dangerous to children under the age of six because their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead and their growing bodies absorb more lead. (EPA) Lead poisoning is also harmful to adults. It can cause: increased chance of illness during pregnancy; harm to fetus, including brain damage or death; fertility problems in men and women; high blood pressure; digestive problems; nerve disorders; memory and concentration problems; and muscle and joint pain. Women with a high lead level in their system prior to pregnancy would expose a fetus to lead through the placenta during fetal development (EPA, Los Angeles Times) A workplace lead-poisoning prevention project may decrease the number of lead poisoning occurrences. The California Department of Health Services began an occupational lead poisoning prevention project in association with radiator service companies in 1990. Among 252 radiator service companies that participated in the project, five made new radiators or radiator cores and 247 fixed used radiators. The number of companies that conducted blood lead testing increased form 9 percent to 95 percent after implementation of the lead poisoning prevention project. Six companies started lead air monitoring programs. Identification of companies with lead over-exposure was ten times higher after the start of blood lead testing. Blood levels of lead were highest in radiator repair workers and were higher in older employees than in younger employees. (Marlene Cimons. Los Angeles Times) The California Department of Health Services began an occupational lead poisoning prevention project in cooperation with 272 radiator service companies. The agency developed and marketed resources to facilitate companies’ own efforts, tracked the progress of each company, and urged the companies to conduct blood lead testing. Testing by participating employers increased fro 9 percent to 95 percent and ten times as many companies with likely exposures were identified as had been reported to the state’s lead registry in the previous year. The success of this project indicated that the model should be applied more extensively. (Am J. Public Health. 1993;83:406-410) The goals of public health efforts to eliminate lead poisoning in children must be to identify and treat children with high blood lead levels and to prevent lead exposure. In 1990, about three million children had blood lead levels of ten micrograms per deciliter (dL) of blood or more. Blood lead levels this high can adversely affect development and cognitive ability. Lead-based paint has been banned from residential use since 1978, but about 74 percent of homes built before 1980 have lead-based paint. (Philip J. Hilts. The New York Times) In a 1993 study, reductions in blood lead levels were associated with increases in cognitive ability. Another study found that removing lead contaminated soil from around children’s homes was associated with slight declines in blood lead levels. Two 1992 federal laws authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide grants for screening, treating and preventing lead poisoning and require prospective homebuyers to be notified of the risks of lead exposure in houses built before 1978. (Philip J. Hilts. The New York Times) Lead Poisoning Prevention and Public Awareness Programs The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an outreach public awareness program which offers free educational material, a toll-free hotline and awards grants to assist families, homeowners and environmentalists in promoting awareness and protecting families from lead poisoning. The EPA has created a Lead Poisoning Prevention Media Outreach Kit for the state and local health, environmental and housing agencies in working with the media. The media kit is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and the Housing and Urban Development agencies. Brochures, posters and other educational information is available on the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov. Other agencies that offer public awareness programs and lead testing services are the National Lead Information Center, (800) 424-LEAD and the Michigan Department of Community Health, (800) 648-6942. These facilities also offer paint training and certification programs for persons interested in conducting lead-based activities, performing inspections in homes and lead abatement activities. Wayne County Presently, the Wayne County Department of Public Health provides on-going lead prevention activities through its nursing staff and the division of Environmental Health. Nurses complete a health assessment to children with blood lead levels of 10-19, between the ages of six months and six years of age. Me...