Sources of Lead Poisoning
Children younger than four years of age are at the greatest
risk for lead poisoning and its harmful effects. Infants in this
age group have a tremendous amount of hand-to-mouth activity,
from playing on the floor to crawling and walking while holding
onto walls and windowsills and then putting their hands in their
mouths. When there is chipping and peeling lead paint in a child's
home, the tiny chips and leaded dust get on their hands and into
their mouths and the poisoning process begins. According to the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), lead paint is the predominant
cause of childhood lead poisoning in the United States. No matter
what the lead paint industry, landlords and their insurance companies
say, it is not your fault.
Chipping and peeling paint are the most common and dangerous
sources of lead poisoning for preschool children. Lead from painted
surfaces can enter a child's body completely undetected. This
has been
proven in scientific studies and in everyday living, when parents,
doctors and health agencies have investigated the sources of
lead a child has access to and how they become lead poisoned.
Leaded paint naturally erodes to create a chalky dust and begins
to chip and flake away from painted surfaces. The deteriorated
leaded paint becomes part of the house dust and is inhaled by
young children. The simple act of a child breathing in a leaded
environment can begin the poisoning process. It is the reason
why property owners and those responsible for property management
and maintenance have a legal responsibility to keep their property
free of chipping and peeling paint.
In addition to paint, other lead sources in the home can endanger
young children. These include: the home's water supply, soil,
ceramic cookware, older cribs and toys.
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