Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray, highly toxic metal that is found naturally in the earth's crust.

Where is Lead found?

• Homes and buildings built before 1960
• Natural environment (soil)
• Well water, food, beverages
• Commercial products (toys, keys)
• Workplace (battery recycling, construction, pottery making)
• Imported home remedies/cosmetics (Kohl, Azarcon)

Exposure to Lead

• Ingestion
  1. children absorb more lead than adults
  2. lead contaminated soil, dust
  3. normal hand-to-mouth activity
• Inhalation
  1. home renovation
  2. industries

How are children exposed to lead?

• Mouthing and hand-to-mouth behaviors
• Pica (eating non-food items such as dirt)
• Living in pre-1978 housing

How can lead affect my health?

Lead can affect the developing brain and nervous system, causing developmental delays and learning problems.

Is Lead harmful to pregnant women?

Yes, women with elevated lead levels have an increased chance of pre-term labor and low birth weight deliveries. During pregnancy, lead leaches from the mother's bones and crosses the placenta to the fetus.

What you can do

• Wash hands before meals and after play
• Wet-mop floors and surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner
• Wash toys
• Diet rich in Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin C
• Adults who work with lead should bathe, change clothes before contact with children, car seats, or furniture

For more information please contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) at (601) 576-7447.