Get Your Life Back

Lead poisoning occurs from swallowing lead (i.e. lead paint chips) or from breathing dust with lead in it.

The most common source of lead poisoning comes from paint. Lead paint was used in most buildings built before 1978.

Peeling paint is a signal that lead paint was probably used.

Dangerous levels of lead have also been found in vinyl mini-blinds and in the finishing on fixtures such as bath tubs.

Children are at the greatest risk. Lead poisoning is the greatest environmental health threat to children under the age of 7. Even small amounts of chipped lead paint or lead dust can be dangerous to children.

• If a child (or adult) has been exposed to materials containing lead, they should have a blood-lead test.

• A blood-lead test is the only accurate way to diagnose lead poisoning.

• A child who has been exposed to lead should get a blood-lead test at each pediatric check-up until the age of seven.

Symptoms of children exposed to lead
can include the following:

• sluggish behavior
• apathy
• headaches
• staring periods
• tremors
• seizures
• loss of consciousness
• abdominal cramps
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• irritability
• hyperactive behavioral

Adult symptoms of exposure to lead
are more pronounced:

• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Severe abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Loss of motor coordination

Steps to take to prevent
your child from getting lead poisoning:

• Always assume that paint in housing built before 1978 contains lead.

• Call the local department of health and insist on a lead-based paint inspection.

• Insist that the landlord maintain paint properly by removing deteriorating paint and repainting with two coats of non-leaded paint.

• Frequently mop all floors and wipe down all surfaces with high-phosphate detergents.

• Ensure that your children wash their hands frequently.

• Wash you children's toys frequently to ensure that lead-contaminated dust does not settle on them.

• Discourage your children from putting their hands and toys in their mouths.

• Ask for help from your pediatrician and your local department of health.

You should consult:

• your child's pediatrician;

• your local department of public health;

• the National Lead Information Center (1-800-LEAD-FYI);

• the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning,

28 Ostend Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4209.
Call 800-370-5323
or
e-mail LEADFREE@msn.com

Contact Us if you have been injured. It is important that you act promptly as certain statutes of limitations apply and you can lose your rights to be compensated.

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