Lead Poisoning - Children's Hospital Boston

300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000

My Child Has:

Lead Poisoning

Programs that treat this condition

	Neuropsychology Program		Pediatric Environmental Health Center
	Regional Center for Poison Control & Prevention		Injury Prevention Program

Facts about lead exposure:

Lead poisoning is a totally preventable disease.
Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.
Even children that seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
Children can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.
Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates reveal that almost 500,000 children between the ages of 1 and 5 living in the US have elevated lead levels. Approximately one out of every 25 children has dangerous levels of lead in their bloodstream.

If you think your home has high levels of lead:

Have young children tested for lead, even if they seem healthy.

Make sure your entire family washes their hands before eating and going to bed.

Wash children's bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.

Make sure children eat healthy foods with adequate iron and calcium. These minerals help decrease the absorption of lead.

Have your home checked for lead hazards, including water faucets.

Clean floors, windowsills, and other surfaces with soapy water often.

Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.

Talk with your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.

Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-LEAD for guidelines).

Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.

Do not try to remove lead-based paint yourself. Have it professionally removed

Lead is more dangerous to children than adults because:

they often put their hands and other objects in their mouths that can have lead dust on them.
their growing bodies absorb more lead.
their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

Children between the ages of 1 and 3 who live in subsidized housing built before 1978 are especially at risk.

Effects of lead in the body:

Lead poisoning can affect just about every system in the body yet often produces no definitive symptoms. The following are some of the most common symptoms of lead poisoning. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Lead poisoning may cause:

damage to the brain and nervous system.
behavior and learning problems.
slowed growth.
hearing problems.
headaches.
anemia.

Lead is also harmful to adults, who may suffer from:

difficulties during pregnancy.
reproductive problems in both men and women.
high blood pressure.
digestive problems.
nerve disorders.
memory and concentration problems.
muscle and joint pain.

High levels of lead may also cause seizures, coma, and death. The symptoms of lead poisoning may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Testing children for lead exposure:

If you think your home has high levels of lead, get your children tested. A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead, and is important for:

children who are 6 months to 6 years old. Talk to your child's physician about whether he/she needs testing.
family members whom you think might have high levels of lead.

Your child's physician can test your child's blood levels. The tests are inexpensive or, in some cases, free. Your child's physician will explain the test results. Treatment can range from changes in your diet to medications or a hospital stay.



	The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional.

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