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Letter to the editor

Worried about lead? Older homes pose greatest risk

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published October 26, 2007

Over the past several months, millions of toys have been recalled because of dangerous levels of lead. The concern over these products is real.

As attention on the toy recalls grows, Floridians need to know that there are many things you can do to prevent lead poisoning. Now is a particularly appropriate time to focus on prevention, as Oct. 21-27 is Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

While lead in toys is indeed a risk, lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust and soil in and around older homes remains the leading cause of lead exposure in the United States.

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978; however, homes built before then may still contain lead hazards. Of particular concern are tiny dust particles created by the sanding and scraping during renovation, remodeling, and painting work done in a home with lead-based paint. These activities can result in extremely high lead levels in a home. Worse yet, this dust can be unknowingly ingested or inhaled by small children and adults alike.

Lead poisoning can have lifelong effects. In young children, even low levels of exposure can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death.

Immediate symptoms of lead poisoning are rare, which makes it difficult for parents and doctors to recognize exposure. A blood lead test is the only way to know if a child has been exposed to lead. It is important to have children tested if you think they may have been exposed to lead.

Fortunately, lead poisoning is completely preventable. I urge parents to remain alert to potential lead hazards where their children live, visit and play - including Grandma's house or day care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health urge Floridians to take the following steps to protect children:

- Parents, ask your pediatrician about blood lead testing. Medicaid-eligible children should receive a test at 12 and 24 months of age and between 36 and 72 months of age if they have never been tested.

- Make sure children do not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.

- Pregnant women and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation. They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed.

- Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources. Parents should close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on walls. You can also apply temporary barriers such as adhesive paper or duct tape to cover holes in walls or to block children's access to other sources of lead.

- Regularly wash children's hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both are known lead sources.

- Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components. Because household dust is a major source of lead, parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every two to three weeks. Window sills and wells can contain high levels of leaded dust. They should be kept clean. If possible, windows should be shut to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces, or opened from the top sash.

- Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes. Parents should plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch or wood chips, if possible. Until the bare soil is covered, parents should move play areas away from bare soil and away from the sides of the house. If using a sandbox, parents should also cover the box when not in use to prevent cats from using it as a litter box. That will help protect children from exposure to animal waste.

- Talk to your state or local health department about testing paint and dust from your home for lead.

To reduce a child's exposure from nonresidential paint sources:

- Avoid using traditional home remedies and cosmetics that may contain lead.

- Avoid eating candies imported from Mexico.

- Avoid using containers, cookware or tableware to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead-free.

- Remove recalled toys and toy jewelry from children immediately.

- Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. (Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.)

- Shower and change clothes after finishing a task that involves working with lead-based products such as stained glass work, bulletmaking, or using a firing range.

- Sign up to receive e-mail alerts with up-to-date lead recall information by visiting www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/lead/the_lead_alert_network.htm.

Ana Viamonte Ros, MD, MPH, is the surgeon general of Florida.

"While lead in toys is indeed a risk, lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust and soil in and around older homes remains the leading cause of lead exposure in the United States."

Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros, Florida surgeon general

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 21:04:19]