Lead

We’ve talked a bit about lead in soil from the ASARCO smelter. If you live in a home built before 1978, there are very likely elevated levels of lead around the foundation of your home even if you’re not in our soil safety project area – in the “drip line” where years of leaded exterior paint flaked off into the soil. Other sources of lead that may come to mind are peeling interior paint and the many recalled toys of a couple years ago. Did you know that, even with new laws in the works and in place, there are still frequent recalls for lead in toys and other consumer products? You can sign up here for emails from the Consumer Product Safety Commission alerting you of recalls, as well as search older recalls if you’ve got a product you’re concerned about or you’re looking at purchasing used items. When you think about lead paint, you probably picture children eating paint chips or gnawing on windowsills. Even more likely, when old doors, cabinets, or wood frame windows with lead paint layers “rub”, is the production of fine leaded dust that lands on windowsills, countertops, and floors. Other common lead sources are cheap jewelry (from vending machines, dollar stores, and accessory shops aimed at young girls), imported candies, certain home remedies, and older or imported glazed pottery and dishes.

The Centers for Disease Control considers a blood lead level of 10 µL/dL (micrograms/deciliter) or below to be safe. Higher blood lead levels can cause learning and behavioral problems, damage to the brain and nerves, lower IQ, slow growth, hearing problems and headaches. But, there is no “safe” level of lead in a child’s blood and research has shown that there can be health impacts at levels below 10 µg/dL. Some experts in the field of children’s environmental health think the number should be dropped to 2. Children with high levels of lead in their bodies generally do not look or act sick. Symptoms of lead exposure are appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability, and headache. If you have a toddler, chances are they have at least some of these symptoms several times a week, totally unrelated to lead exposure!

You can ask your pediatrician to give your child a blood lead test. Depending on your doctor, this may be a simple finger prick or a venous blood draw.

The Environmental Protection Agency suggests the following ways to keep your child safe from lead:
* Make sure your child eats healthy, low-fat foods high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C. Low levels of these nutrients make a child’s body more likely to absorb lead.
* Always wash hands before eating and after playing outside. Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys frequently to remove lead dust.
* Do not use imported pottery, which may have lead glaze, to serve or store food.
* Do not eat candies imported from Mexico or use alternative medications like Azarcon or Greta.
* Let tap water run for one minute, or until very cold, before using for the first time in the morning and after you’ve been away for the day. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Older pipes may have lead solder. Water that hasn’t been turned on for several hours, and hot water, is more likely to contain lead from pipes.
* Regularly dust windowsills and other surfaces with a damp cloth, and damp mop floors, to reduce lead dust.
* Take shoes off when entering your home to avoid tracking in lead and other contaminants.