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Since lead is no longer used as a gasoline additive (banned since the 1980s), or in lead-based household paint (banned since 1970s), and routine screening is no longer done on all children, you don't hear much about lead poisoning anymore.
Elevated lead levels are still a problem though, because it does continue to be used in many products, including batteries, ammunition, solder, pipes, pottery glazes, printing inks and paint for industrial, military and marine use. And since lead that has contaminated soil from the past use of leaded paint and gasoline does not degrade or break down with time, children continue to be at risk for lead poisoning.
Are your kids at risk?
The screening questionnaire published by the American Academy of Pediatrics can help determine if your child is at risk and needs blood lead testing. These questions include:
- Does your child live in or regularly visit a house or child care facility built before 1950?
- Does your child live in or regularly visit a house or child care facility built before 1978 that is being or has recently been renovated or remodeled (within the last 6 months)?
- Does your child have a sibling or playmate who has or did have lead poisoning?
If you answered yes or don't know the answer to any of these questions, your child should have a blood lead level tested. Screening/testing is usually done at 9-12 months and sometimes again at 2 years.
One problem with these questions is that many parents don't know how old their house is. A recent study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Inaccuracy in Parental Reporting of the Age of Their Home for Lead-Screening Purposes, found that parents inaccurately reported that their children did not spend significant time in a house built before 1950 when they actually did.
Do you know how old your house is? You likely do know if you moved into the house when it was new or if you live in a newer neighborhood in the suburbs. But what if you are renting your home or apartment or you bought a previously owned home?
Lead poisoning is still a problem, especially in low-income children, urban children, and those living in older housing . It is estimated that 2.2% of children in the United States (about 434,000 children) aged 1-5 years have a blood lead level greater than or equal to 10 µg/dL, the level at which lead is thought to cause harmful health effects, including learning disabilities and behavior problems.
Just as concerning are new reports that show that there may be no safe lead levels. Some recent reports have shown small declines in IQ points for children even if their lead level was under 10. Another report showed a delay in when puberty begins in girls with lead levels less than 3.
To avoid your child having even low levels of lead, it is important to take the screening questionaires seriously and unless you are sure of the age of your home, answer that you don't know and request a blood lead level be tested.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends universal screening in areas with >27% of housing built before 1950 and in populations in which the percentage of 1- and 2-year-olds with elevated BLLs is >12%.
You can see if you live in an area where there are a lot of older homes by searching this census database. Select your 'state' and then 'county' and choose '1990 ZIP Codes within one State' to see how many of the homes in your zip code were built before 1950. Don't rely on your Pediatrician to know if you live in a high risk area. Your Pediatrician likely has patients in many different zip codes and might not know the risk for each.
There is also a recommendation from the Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention that screening blood lead test be performed on all children enrolled in Medicaid at ages 1 and 2 years.
It is well known what Pediatricians should do with elevated lead levels, but with the new reports that even lower levels might cause problems, if your child has a level under 10, you should likely review our lead poisoning prevention tips, including providing your child with a nutritious diet, cleaning the house with a damp mop (to minimize dust), encouraging frequent handwashing, and discouraging your child from ingesting nonfood substances. And make an effort to decrease your child's exposure to lead (see the lead screening guide).
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