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Lead-based Paint Dangerous for Children

Young children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning since they are more likely to ingest lead paint chips, flakes, or dust and are more sensitive to the adverse health effects of lead. Elevated lead levels in young children can trigger

• learning disabilities
• decreased growth
• hyperactivity
• impaired hearing
• brain damage

Lead can be found in a number of places inside and outside the home. For example, lead can be found in household dust from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into the house. It can also be found in drinking water coming from old lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

"Childhood lead poisoning is easily preventable with the right information and awareness. This grant will help Arizona tribal communities raise awareness about preventing lead's adverse health effects," said Administrator Jackson. "This project is an important example of the efforts happening across the country to protect our children from a major health threat."

Lead-based Paint Outreach to Native American Tribes

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is developing culturally specific outreach materials to educate tribal families, especially parents of young children, and tribal staff on the health risks to children from exposure to lead-based paint.

Lead Awareness for Facility Maintenance Personnel

The program specifically reaches out to facility maintenance personnel to stress the importance of using lead-safe work practices when renovating buildings.

The use of lead-based paint in U.S. residential housing was banned in 1978.

Approximately 75% of the U.S. housing stock built before 1978, or 64 million homes, contain some lead-based paint.

For information on EPA's lead paint program, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead

For information on lead in paint, dust and soil, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead

For information on protecting your family from lead hazards, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#where

Lead Disclosure Required for Rental & Sale Properties

Property owners are required to disclose whether reports about lead-based paint or lead hazards existed for apartments prior to tenants signing lease agreements. Violations are subject to hefty fines via the federally regulated Toxic Substances Control Act.

Childhood lead poisoning from exposure to lead-based paint chips or dust continues to be an environmental challenge. Without adequate information about lead hazards, tenants and home owners cannot protect themselves and their families from the significant risks that these hazards present.

Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint.

The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978.

When you are home hunting, be sure to ask:

• When was this property built?
• Has it been tested for lead?  For mold?
• Do you have the required EPA disclosure information? 

Hazardous substances affect children, in particular.

Children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity, slowed growth, or hearing problems.

Federal law requires that persons and entities who sell or rent housing built before 1978 must

• provide an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet;
  
• include lead notification language in sales and rental forms;
• disclose any known lead-based paint hazards and provide reports to buyers or renters;
• allow a lead inspection or risk assessment by home buyers;
• and maintain records certifying compliance with applicable federal requirements for three years.

Lead hazards may be controlled through specific maintenance practices or eliminated through abatement. For additional information on lead in paint, dust and soil, see: http://www.epa.gov/lead/.

Children absorb lead at a much higher rate than adults and toddlers put EVERYTHING in their mouths... so lead in the soil and wall paint, and even their toys becomes a danger to their health that lasts up to 30 years.

SOLUTIONS: To reduce lead content in the environment, old pipes should be replaced, as should old, flaky paint. Any toys used in the yard, park or garden, such as buggies and bikes that come into contact with soil should be washed regularly. Have a child's lead level checked if you live (or lived during their toddler years) in an old house that used lead-based paint on walls or window sills... or even outdoor painted walls.

The campaign for car drivers to make the switch from leaded to unleaded gasoline has been hailed as a major environmental success story in recent years. But despite the dramatic change in our driving habits lead pollution in the environment remains a health hazard and, according to the latest research from Children of the 90s, one to which children are particularly vulnerable.

The research published this week in the online edition of the Archives of Diseases in Childhood, reveals that raised levels of lead in blood - at even quite modest levels - adversely affect behavior and educational attainment.

Children of the 90s measured the levels of lead in the blood samples of nearly 500 youngsters at age two years eight months and linked these levels to the SATS results of the children at age seven years. After adjusting for the many factors, which can affect educational attainment, the analysis showed a clear link between levels of lead in the blood and exam results.

Lead researcher, Professor Alan Emond, Head of the Centre for Child and Adolescent Health at the University of Bristol, said his results demonstrated that those children with lower levels of lead in their blood (between two - five microg/dl) were found to perform significantly better in their SATS that those with blood lead above five microg/dl.

Currently, the World Health Organisation has set the international acceptable level of lead in blood - known as the 'threshold of concern' - at ten microg/dl, but Professor Emond is now calling for this figure to be halved to just five microg/dl based on these results.

"Exposure to lead early in childhood has effects on subsequent educational attainment, even at low blood levels (five-ten microg/dl). Our results suggest that the threshold for clinical concern should be reduced to five microg/dl."

He adds, "We also talked to teachers as part of this research and found that children with lead levels above ten microg/dl were nearly three times as likely to show hyperactivity and anti-social behaviour."

Children are at the greatest risk because lead is more easily absorbed by their growing bodies and because their tissues are especially sensitive to damage. The main sources of environmental lead include water supplies (lead pipes), old lead paint and soil. Blood lead levels appear to peak between the ages of two and three years - the ages when toddlers tend to put most items (including toys) in their mouths.

"While adults absorb around 10-15 per cent of an ingested quantity of lead, this amount can increase to 50 per cent in infants and young children. This lead is then absorbed into the bone where it can remain for up to 30 years," he said.

"Lead gets incorporated into the bones and is gradually released into the blood and circulates throughout the body. It interferes with enzymes and affects many systems - including the central nervous system."