One out of every six young children in America runs a serious risk of growing up to be less intelligent than was originally determined by his or her genetic code. These preschoolers all have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood. Chances are, most of them will never develop physical symptoms that will alert their parents to consult a doctor. They are, instead, being silently and efficiently robbed of their futures and their inner abilities to decode the world around them. And unless action is taken quickly, they will soon be joined by millions more.
Many Americans vaguely remember public service announcements on television in the late '60s and early '70s, warning about the risk of lead poisoning for ghetto toddlers munching on paint chips in dilapidated tenements. But today we know that the lead poisoning problem affects all socioeconomic groups, rural and urban. Although inner city children still run the highest risk (one in two is actually likely to develop lead poisoning), they are definitely not alone. The sweet-tasting paint chip was not a myth exactly, but it is now known to be far from the only culprit.
Even intact lead paint which shows no signs of peeling can create dangerous, fine lead dust that is easily inhaled. This fine dust can filter out, even when the original paint has been covered by several subsequent coats of non-lead-based paint. It is estimated that 57 million private homes have lead paint on at least one of the following: windows, sills, doors, frames, walls, floors, stairs, railings, banisters, woodwork, molding, baseboards, porches, and fences. Children in high-income families are often affected by dust from home renovations. This can be a hazard even when the renovations are being carried out a few houses away.
Drinking water may cause lead poisoning due to contamination by lead water pipes, plumbing fittings, or lead solder used to connect plumbing. The source may be the faucets in the home or the county system itself. An alarming percentage of school water fountain are actually lined with lead.
Soil can be contaminated by chips and dust from exterior paint, lead-based insecticides, and highway pollution. Exhaust from vehicles using leaded gas can contaminate the area surrounding heavily traveled roads. Lead smelters can also create hazardous lead pollution. Hence, food grown near these areas can easily be contaminated.
The federal government banned most uses of lead-based paint in 1977. In 1986, it banned lead pipe and solder in plumbing that carried potable water. And most lead in gasoline was phased out in the 1980s. But the government never actually dealt with the 3 million tons of old lead that lines the walls and fixtures of millions of housing units. How did the situation get so out of hand? According to the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, headed by prominent lead researcher, Dr. Herbert Needleman, professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, in the 1980s, childhood lead poisoning became an "orphan issue." To quote the alliance brochure, "Health groups consider it a children's welfare issue, children's advocacy groups view it as an environmental issue, environmental groups see it as a housing problem, and housing groups see it as a health issue -- and nothing gets done."
In 1975, the Centers for Disease Control defined an elevated blood lead level as 40 or more micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) blood. In 1978 they reduced it to 30. In 1985, the level was cut to 25. Now 10 ug/dl is considered dangerous, and scientists realize that even minute amounts of lead can irreversibly slow development and make children less intelligent.
The alliance highly recommends that all children from nine months to six-years-old be screened for lead poisoning annually, regardless of where they live. High risk children should be screened every two to three months until age three, and every six months between ages three and six. High-risk children are defined as those who live or play in older housing, especially if it is in poor condition or undergoing renovation; those who live with someone who is exposed to lead on the job or who has a hobby that uses lead; those who live near a lead smelter, processing plant, or heavily traveled road or highway; or those who have siblings or playmate with high lead levels. Treatment, such as chelation therapy, may be necessary and could require hospitalization.
Homeowners are advised not to attempt abatement of lead-based paint themselves. Odds are, renovations to remove the paint will just increase the dust level. Local health departments often have lists of qualified contractors. The safest approach will probably be encapsulating, paneling over, or removing painted structures entirely. Damp-mopping or wiping with a high-phosphate detergent will help to remove lead dust. Trisodium phosphate washes (TSP) are available at paint and hardware stores. High efficiency particulate air-filtered vacuums (HEPAvac) are also helpful for this.
The good news about water is that in nearly all cases, lead exposure from tap water can be reduced simply by running the water for a full minute prior to use and keeping a jug of the "purged line" water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking. It's also better to use only cold water for cooking or washing food, since hot water is more likely to pick up lead. Houses of all ages and plumbing types are susceptible to lead contamination. This is partly because EPA regulations allow for a "lead-free" label even when fixtures actually contain up to eight percent lead. New homes, therefore, often have unexpectedly high lead levels. The only way to find out whether there is a lead problem is to get the water tested. The EPA considers water safe if it has less than 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead, although many doctors and advocacy groups call for less than 10. Most water filters do not filter out lead. Although the EPA has regulated that all schools and day-care centers test for lead in their water, a disappointing few have complied.
Dr. Louis Sullivan, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, considers lead poisoning to be the nation's number one environmental threat to children, despite the fact that it is entirely preventable. High blood lead levels are associated with anemia, hyperactivity, reading disability, and damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. Lead-exposed grade school children exhibit behavioral problems, low IQ, and deficiencies in speech and language. Research shows that by the time they become teenagers, they are seven times more likely than their peers to drop out of school. Lead-exposed adults run greater risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, so hypertensive adults are another high risk group. But pregnant women and preschoolers are at greatest risk -- even relatively low maternal blood lead levels cause neurological damage in newborn infants. More than 400,000 infants per year are exposed to dangerous maternal blood lead levels.
"A concerted, multifaceted effort will be required to eliminate the hazards of lead poisoning," says David Fleshman of National Lead Watch. "Right now, the most important thing we can do to protect the public is to encourage immediate testing of all possible contaminated sources."
National Lead Watch
112 West Broadway
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
Tele: 1-800-242-5567
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