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1. What is Lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth's crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, causing health effects. 

2. What is Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning is a disease that can cause serious health problems, such as brain and kidney damage, coma, and even death. You should be concerned if your child tests at even a low level; any lead level in the blood is a concern. Even small blood lead levels can lead to learning problems and hyperactivity.

3. What are Sources of Lead Poisoning?

Lead can be found in many products and locations. Some you might never have thought of, including some imported candies, toys, and traditional medicines. The most common cause of lead poisoning is in homes built before 1978 (when lead-based paints were banned), probably containing lead-based paint. When the paint peels and cracks, it makes lead dust. Children can be poisoned when they swallow or breathe in lead dust. However, some non-paint sources, though less common, can cause severe cases of lead poisoning and can be dangerous if not managed properly.

Lead can be found throughout a child's environment.

• Certain water pipes may contain lead.
• Lead can be found in some products, such as toys and jewelry.
• Lead is sometimes in candies imported from other countries or traditional home remedies.
• Specific jobs and hobbies involve working with lead-based products, like stain glasswork, and may cause parents to bring lead into the home.
• Children who live near airports may be exposed to lead in air and soil from aviation gas.

4. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Lead Poisoning?

Many children with lead poisoning have no symptoms. But even low-level lead exposure can lead to learning and behavior problems, like trouble paying attention. Symptoms of lead poisoning include:

• loss of appetite
• feeling tired or irritable
• poor growth
• nausea and vomiting
• constipation
• stomach pain
• joint pain and muscle weakness
• headaches

Note, very high lead levels can cause confusion, seizures, coma, and even death. 

5. Who is at Risk?

Lead is toxic to everyone, but children younger than six years are at the most significant risk because their growing bodies absorb more information than adults do. Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects with lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths. Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that have lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil, or from playing with toys with lead-based paint.

Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that have lead. They may also breathe lead dust by spending time in areas where lead-based paint is deteriorating. During renovation or repair work, it disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, can increase exposure, as can specific folk remedies containing lead. A pregnant woman's exposure to lead from these sources is of particular concern because it can result in exposure to her developing baby.

6. What are the Health Effects of Lead?

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of lead.

Children

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in:

1. Behavior and learning problems
2. Lower IQ and Hyperactivity
3. Slowed growth
4. Hearing Problems
5. Anemia

In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma, and even death.

Pregnant Women

Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones and calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother's bones and calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead. This can result in severe effects to the developing fetus and infant, including:

1. Cause the baby to be born too early or too small;
2. Hurt the baby's brain, kidney's, and nervous system;
3. Increase the likelihood of learning or behavioral problems; and
4. Put the mother at risk for miscarriage.

Check out the websites below for more about lead's effects on pregnancy and lactating women:

Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Lead Exposure in Pregnant and lactating Women, National Center for Environmental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/leadandpregnancy2010.pdf 

Other Adults

Lead is also harmful to other adults. Adults exposed to lead can suffer from:

1. Cardiovascular effects increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension;
2. Decreased kidney function; and
3. Reproductive problems (in both men and women). 

7. How Do I Get my Child Tested for Lead Poisoning?

If you are concerned that your child might be at risk for lead poisoning, talk with your doctor, your child's pediatrician, or contact the Shelby County Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) at 901-222-9582 or by email at schd.clppp@shelbycountytn.gov for information on screening and testing for lead poisoning.

(NOTE: Here is a video demonstrating the testing procedure: https://youtu.be/O0JSKqzfc9k.)

8. How Much Does It Cost to Get my Child Tested for Lead Poisoning?

Free lead testing is available at all Shelby County Health Department clinics between 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

The list of Shelby County public health clinics and their addresses is below:

Cawthon Public Health Clinic

1000 Haynes, 38114

 

Collierville Public Health Clinic

(Tues. & Thurs. only)

167 Washington St., 38017

 

Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic

6590 Kirby Center Cove, 38118

 

Immunization Clinic

814 Jefferson, Rm. 216, 38105

 

Millington Public Health Clinic

8225 Highway 51 North, 38053

 

Shelby Crossing Public Health Clinic

6170 Macon Road, 38133

 

Southland Mall Public Health Clinic

1287 Southland Mall, 38116

 

No appointment or proof of health insurance is required, but a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child.

9. How Do I Get my Home or Building Tested?

For determining whether lead-based paint is present in pre-1978 homes and buildings, or for assistance with lead poisoning prevention, including information on grants to remove lead-based paint hazards from lead in paint, dust, or soil, please get in contact with the Shelby County Department of Housing at 901-222-7600 and City of Memphis Housing and Community Development at 901-636-LEAD (5323) for information on conducting a risk assessment to determine if there are lead hazards. CALL TODAY TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A LEAD-BASED PAINT HOME INSPECTION AT NO COST TO YOU (click attachment Lead-Safe Program Flyer.pdf!!)

10. What are Some Tips for Lead Poisoning Prevention?

Prevention

Lead poisoning is preventable. The goal is to prevent lead exposure to children before they are harmed. There are many ways parents can reduce a child's exposure to lead. The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead. Lead hazards in a child's environment must be identified, controlled, or removed safely.

1. Women planning on having children, pregnant women, and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 undergoing renovation. They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or clean up paint debris after work is completed.
2. EPA has a Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule that establishes requirements for firms and individuals performing renovations, and affects contractors, property managers, and others who disturb painted surfaces. A contractor renovating/remodeling a house built before 1978 needs to be trained and licensed to work with lead. Contractors must also provide homeowners with a copy of EPA's Renovate Right before work begins. 
3. Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources. Ensure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint. Until lead remediation is completed, parents should clean and isolate all lead sources. They should close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on walls or apply temporary barriers such as furniture or plastic to block children's access to sources of lead.
4. Regularly wash children's hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both dust and soil can be sources of lead.
5. Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components. Because household dust is a major source of lead in older houses, parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every two to three weeks. Windowsills and troughs may contain high levels of lead dust and should be kept clean. If feasible, windows should be closed to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces or opened from the top sash.
6. Prevent children from playing in bare soil. Parents should plant grass on bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch, or gravel. Parents should move play areas away from bare soil until the bare soil is covered. 
7. Pets can also bring lead into the home. Dogs and cats with access to the outdoors could play in lead-contaminated soil and track that soil into the house and children.
8. Occupations with possible lead exposures may have set procedures per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards to prevent exposure of taking lead home. If not, you can take steps to Protect Yourself at Work. Lead safety practices include showering before leaving work, changing clothes/shoes, and leaving work attire/equipment at work. All clothing with possible lead exposure is recommended to be washed separately and cleaned with an additional rinse cycle to clean out any lead dust that may be left behind. It is also advisable to vacuum your car using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
9. If drinking water is of concern for lead contamination because of pipes or faucets in your home, flush the lines by running water for 15 to 30 seconds before using cold water only for drinking or cooking. Call your local health department or download the Important Information About Lead in Your Drinking Water brochure to identify possible sources of lead in water.
10. Importance of a Healthy Diet-Children with empty stomachs absorb more lead than children with full stomachs. Provide your child with four to six small nutritious meals during the day. The following nutrients can help protect your child from absorbing lead:
11. Iron-Rich Foods protect the body from the harmful effects of lead. Good sources of dietary iron include: lean red meats, fish, and chicken; iron-fortified cereals, and dried fruits (raisins, prunes)
12. Calcium-Rich Foods reduce lead absorption and help make teeth and bones strong. Good sources of dietary calcium include: milk, yogurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens)
13. Vitamin C-Rich Foods work together to reduce lead absorption. Good sources of vitamin C include: oranges, orange juice, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, tomatoes, tomato juice, and green peppers

For healthy eating tips, please click the link from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet: Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips for Families https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/documents/fight_lead_poisoning_with_a_healthy_diet_2019.pdf