Causes

Each of us is exposed to some lead every day. Lead enters your body each time you inhale leaded dust or swallow something that contains lead. Lead poisoning occurs when too much lead builds up in the body. Lead poisoning can cause learning, behavior and health problems in young children. Lead can cause high blood pressure, and damage to kidneys and reproductive organs in adults.

Who is at Risk?

Children six years and younger living in homes built before 1960 are at the greatest risk. Children run a greater risk because their bodies absorb the lead more easily. Eating lead paint chips and dust is a common cause of lead poisoning in young children. A pregnant or breast-feeding woman's exposure to lead can harm her unborn baby or child.

Adults who work with lead on the job are also at high risk. People remodeling their homes may also be at risk, if the paint in the home has lead in it. The amount of lead in household paint was not limited until 1978.

Your Household Risk

To evaluate your household's risk for lead exposure, answer the following questions:

1. Does anyone in your household have a habit of eating non-food items such as newspaper, putty, etc.?
2. Does anyone in your household have a brother, sister, housemate or playmate with confirmed lead poisoning (lead level of 10 meg/ds or greater)?
3. Does anyone in your household live in or regularly visit a home built before 1960 (including day care center, preschool, relative's or babysitter's home)?
4. If yes to Question #3, is there any peeling paint there?
5. If yes to Question #3, has there been remodeling or repainting there within the past six months?
6. Is there anyone in your household whose job or hobby involves working with lead (such as smelting, batteries, soldering, print shop, auto body repair, radiators, stained glass windows)?
7. Is your household near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant, or industry that might release lead?
8. Has anyone in your household lived in a refugee camp within the past 9 months?
9. Does anyone in your home use non-western or ethnic medicines (e.g., Azarcon, greta, pay lo ah, shung fa)?
10. Has anyone in your household had his/her blood lead level checked within the past 6-12 months?
11. If you answered yes to any of these questions, contact your doctor and schedule a blood lead test for yourself and/or your family members.

Symptoms

• Irritability
• Constipation
• Stomach cramps
• Lack of energy
• Loss of recently acquired skills
• No desire to eat food
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Trouble sleeping

Source: Anoka County Community Health & Environmental Services, Disease Prevention Control Office, 763-422-6970

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