Lead-based paint was banned in 1978, but houses built before then probably still contain leaded paint. Children, particularly under the age of six, are most at risk from even small amounts of lead, and the damage can be permanent. But there are things you can do to protect kids. Read on to learn more about the symptoms and causes of lead poisoning, how to help prevent it, and laws about having children screened.
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Lead poisons the entire body
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- After being ingested, lead enters the bloodstream and is absorbed and stored in many tissues and organs in the body, including the liver, kidneys, brain, teeth and bones.
- High levels can cause serious health problems in children and can affect almost every organ system of the body, causing many different symptoms.
- In children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, decreased muscle and bone growth, speech and language problems, and behavior problems.
- The best way to determine if lead is present in the body is by testing a child’s blood.
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