MDHHS - Childhood Lead Poisoning

Childhood Lead Exposure

workers removing lead paint from a house Lead is a toxic metal that was commonly used in paint, gasoline, and plumbing pipes and fixtures. Because of health concerns, the federal government banned lead from paint in 1978. It was also banned from gasoline in 1995.

Who is most at risk of harm from lead?

Children are at higher risk of harm because their developing brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the harm lead can cause. Lead is also a concern for pregnant women because it can pass from the mother to her fetus.

There are approximately half a million children ages 1-5 with elevated blood lead levels living in the U.S. The CDC considers a blood lead level (BLL) of 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or higher to be elevated and the level at which actions should be taken to reduce lead in the child’s environment. However, no amount of lead in the body is considered safe.

The CDC has determined that children whose families are low income, are minority race or ethnicity, or are living in older homes, are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels. About 5.6% of black children have elevated blood lead levels compared to 2.4% of white children.

How can children come into contact with lead?

Children can breathe or swallow lead particles. The most common sources of exposure are lead paint chips, lead-contaminated dust, and water. Lead paint is a problem when it is peeling or chipping, gets into the air, or when it is on surfaces that children can chew on. Lead is also found in some caulking and plumbing fixtures.

Children sometimes eat lead paint chips because the chips have a sweet taste. Children are also more likely to put their hands and other objects into their mouths that might have lead-contaminated dust or soil on them.

Adults are also at risk of harm from lead. They may work in a job or have a hobby where lead is used, or being removed. Children of parents who are around lead at work are also at risk of harm. Parents may have lead particles on their clothing or other work items and bring them into the home.

How do you know if you have lead in your body?

A blood test can measure the amount of lead in your blood and estimate how much lead you have recently come into contact with. The most reliable test is done by drawing blood from your arm, which is called a venous test. Some health providers and clinics do a test with blood drawn from your finger, but if it is elevated it should be followed up with a venous test.

What health problems can lead cause?

In children:

Learning problems
Behavior problems including hyperactivity
Lower IQ
Slowed growth and development
Hearing and speech problems
Anemia

In adults:

Decreased kidney function
Essential tremor of the hands
Small increases in blood pressure, especially in middle-aged or older people
Changes in sperm and possible difficulty becoming pregnant.
Reduced fetal growth in pregnant women

The longer a person is exposed to lead, the greater the likelihood that health problems could occur.

Where is lead found?

Lead can be found in:

Paint in homes built before 1978
Soil in yards and playgrounds contaminated from past use of lead in paint, gasoline, or industry
Drinking water contaminated by plumping pipes and fixtures that contain lead
Older or imported toys, furniture, or toy jewelry
Items made with brass, which contains lead, such as faucets and keys
Some candy and candy wrappers imported from Mexico
Hobbies such as making fishing weights, bullets, or stained glass using lead solder
Wild game meat that was taken by lead shot or lead bullets
Indoor or outdoor shooting ranges
Some imported spices, cultural powders, and folk remedies
Lead crystal or ceramic-glazed pottery
Water from outside faucets
Jobs where workers are at a higher risk of exposure to lead include:
Auto repairers
Battery manufacturers
Construction workers
Firing range instructors and gunsmiths
Lead miners and manufacturers
Manufacturing bullets, ceramics, and electrical components
Plumbers and pipe fitters
Recyclers of metal, electronics, and batteries

Lead Poisoning is Preventable!

Ask your children’s health care provider about testing your children for lead if you live in an older house or you are concerned about lead exposure.

If your home was built before 1978:

Have your home tested for lead. If lead is found, there is a program that may help with the cost to remove it. For more information, call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Lead Safe Home Program, 866-691-5323.
Hire a contractor certified in lead removal for home remodeling projects. To find out if a contractor is certified, call the Lead Safe Home Program, 866-691-5323 or view the Certified Lead Inspector's, list.
Clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces often with a wet mop or cloth.

Other steps to take:

Take your shoes off before going into your house to avoid spreading lead from soil or dust inside your house.
Wash your child's hands, pacifiers, and toys often to remove lead from soil or dust.
Don’t let babies and children play with keys or metal trinkets.
Use a water filter meeting NSF/ANSI 53 standards if your home has lead pipes or fixtures containing lead.⁸
Have your drinking water tested if your home has lead pipes, brass fixtures, or non-plastic plumbing that was installed before 2014.³
Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula.
Shower and change your clothes before going home if your work uses lead-based products.
Move your hobby work space to a place away from your home. Shower or wash your hands and change your clothes before getting into the car and returning home.

Imported items that sometimes have high amounts of lead:

Cultural powders such as sindoor imported from India, South Asia, Latin America, or China.
Remedies such as Azarcon, Greta, Ghasard, Ba-baw-san, and Daw Tway that are used to treat arthritis, infertility, upset stomach, menstrual cramps, colic, or some other illness
Cosmetics such as kohl, kaja, al-kahl, or sumra
Candies imported from Mexico

Some foods can help prevent lead from getting absorbed into the body. It’s important to provide healthy meals and snacks that are high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C to anyone that has been exposed to lead, especially children. Between meals, offer small snacks from the foods listed below. An empty stomach absorbs more lead.

Foods that are high in calcium include:

Milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, and kale
Tofu
Canned salmon and sardines
Calcium-enriched orange juice
Foods that are high in iron include:
Lean red meats, light tuna, salmon, and chicken
Peanut butter
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, and kale
Iron-fortified cereal, bread, and pasta
Dried fruit such as raisins and prunes
Beans
Foods that are high in vitamin C include:
Citrus fruit such as oranges, grapefruit, and their juices
Tomatoes and tomato juice
Peppers
Other fruits such as kiwi, strawberries, and melons

What childhood lead exposure data are available on the MiTracking data portal?

The data portal includes these childhood lead exposure indicators:

Annual blood lead levels
Blood lead levels by birth cohort
Age of housing

The data can tell us:

The number and percent of children tested for blood lead and among those tested, the number and percent with BLLs equal to or above the current reference level of 5 µg/dL

However, the data cannot tell us: