LEAD-BASED PAINT FREQUENTLY ASKED
What is lead poisoning?
Lead is a nonessential metal. Lead in the body is unnatural. Lead poisoning
results from the consumption of lead in some form. Children, with normal
hand-to-mouth activity, ingest substantial amounts of lead from household dust
when deteriorating lead-containing paint is present. It takes little lead to
cause lead poisoning. A child can become severely lead poisoned by eating one
milligram of lead-paint dust (60-80 ug/dl), which is equivalent to about three
granules of sugar each day during childhood. To achieve blood-lead levels of 36
ug/dl, a child would have to eat just the equivalent of one granule of sugar a
day. Lead-containing dust also may be inhaled by children through respiration.
Who gets lead poisoning?
Anyone who consumes lead may become poisoned. The highest incidence is in
children between one and six years of age, but especially those between one and
three. It is the best known environmental cause of illnesses in children.
Children at the developmental stage of placing hands and objects in mouth are
the most likely to consume lead if it is present in their environment.
What are contributing factors that might elevate blood
- Lead-based paint
- Dust contaminated by lead-based paint
- Soil contaminated by lead-based paint
- Window sills painted with lead -based paint or lead
- Siding with lead-based paint
- Old linoleum
- Soil contaminated by lead-based paint or leaded
- Carpet contaminated by lead-based paint and/or lead
- Lead-based varnish
- Old furniture with lead-based paint
- Solvents and chemical strippers containing lead
- Fishing weights
- Shoes contaminated with lead
- Work hobbies involving contact with lead
- Some types of matches
- Lead Crystal
- Old Fiesta Ware dishes
- Ammunition including some BB�s
- Some pots and pans
- Pottery or ceramics
- Pewter and ceramic dishes
- Auto-body repairing
- Stained glass modeling
- Pewter toys
- Items manufactured in foreign countries:
- Some plumbing fixtures or lead pipes
- Lead stabilized plastic mini-blinds
- Water from lead fixtures or lead pipes
- Canned foods in cans soldered with lead
- Colors crayons stabilized with lead
- Chalks and markers containing lead
- Tops painted with lead-based paint
- Materials printed with lead containing ink
- Cosmetics containing lead
- Coins contaminated with lead dust
- Some folk medicines (e.g., Azaracon , Greta)
A history of pica, when present, is strongly suggestive.
However, pica is not a prerequisite for lead poisoning. Lead poisoning results
mostly from ingestion lead-laden dust.
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
There is no precise direct correlation between blood level and clinical
manifestations. Children with blood lead levels greater than 100 ug/dl may
occasionally appear clinically well, and children with blood lead level 30-35 ug/dl
may be symptomatic. The probability of severe symptoms increases with the
increase in exposure to lead, and is greater the higher the blood lead level is.
If blood lead levels are low, there may be no obvious
symptoms of lead poisoning, although even low levels of lead may alter
physiology and impact child development. Studies have shown an increase of blood
lead from 10 ug/dl to 20 ug/dl results in an average decrease in IQ of
approximately 2 points. That is why it is important to screen young children for
Symptoms in young children may develop insidiously and may
The following symptoms may occur:
- Gastrointestinal - anorexia, sporadic vomiting,
intermittent abdominal pain (colic) or constipation.
- Central Nervous System - behavior changes,
hyperactivity, aggression impulsiveness, irritability, lack of interest in
play, lethargy, development delays, reversal in verbalization, loss of motor
skills, clumsiness, short attention span or leaning disabilities.
- Hematologic - anemic, pallor
- Cardiovascular - hypertension, bardycardia
- Encephalopathy may occur as toxic damage to the brain
progresses - sudden onset of persistent vomiting; sever ataxia (loss of
coordination), altered state of consciousness, coma, seizures or massive
cerebral edema in younger children. Encaphalopathy rarely occurs in blood lead
levels under 100 ug/dl.
- Nonspecific or vague symptoms include abdominal pain,
vomiting, constipation, anorexia, headache and fever.
What complications can occur from lead poisoning?
Severe and often permanent mental, emotional and physical impairment can result
from lead poisoning. In addition, neurological deficits such as learning
disabilities, mental retardation, seizures and Encephalopathy may occur.
What is treatment for lead poisoning?
- Family education
- Removal of lead from the environment
- Low-fat, high-iron diet (Especially important if child
- Chelation therapy (At the discretion of medical
What can be done to prevent or control lead poisoning?
Reduce exposure of young children to lead:
- Removal of lead-based paint from older residences.
- Children should not be present during renovation of
- Explore other sources of lead exposure besides own home
(i.e., child care, grandparents, etc.)
- Keep children from areas where lead is known to be
Links for More Information
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
U.S. Center for Disease Control
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