Health Effects

Lead is especially toxic for children under six years of age.   The effect of lead poisoning is irreversible and may lead to hyperactivity, learning and behavioral problems, brain damage, impaired hearing, juvenile delinquency, kidney problems, vomiting headaches, and appetite loss.   At very high levels, lead poisoning may cause seizures, coma, and even death.   Lead is also harmful to adults.   Adults may suffer from reproductive problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.   Some symptoms of lead poisoning may include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, tiredness, and irritability.   Lead can harm children and adults without causing any obvious symptoms and it frequently goes unrecognized.   Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their blood.

Lead poisoning remains one of the top childhood environmental health problems today.   Lead poisoning is entirely preventable.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 310,000 United States children aged 1 – 5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.   The only way to determine exposure from lead is to receive a blood lead test.   There is no safe level of lead in the blood.  

Reducing Exposure to Lead

Protective Measures that can be taken include the following:

• Stabilize non-intact paint that is peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking – through wet scraping – just painting over a hazard with regular paint is not enough, remove, seal, or enclose the hazardous areas.
• Talk to Cincinnati Health Department before renovating, (513) 357-7420.
• Make sure children do not have access to non-intact paint in the home.
• Pregnant women and children should not be present in pre-1978 housing during renovation and before thorough clean-up with wet washing and HEPA vacuuming.
• Regularly wash children’s hands and toys.
• Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components with disposable items (such as paper towels) and a general all-purpose cleaner.   Bleach is NOT recommended as it will not remove lead and can damage wooded components.
• Avoid eating candies imported from Mexico, the wrappers typically contain high levels of lead.
• Avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware (especially from Latin America) to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead free.
• Never store food in an opened can.
• Remove recalled toys and toy jewelry immediately from children (contact Consumer Product Commission).
• Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula (hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead, most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house – lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, valves can leach lead – and not from the local water supply).
• Shower and change clothes after finishing a task that involves working with lead-based products such as stain glass work, bullet making, using a firing range, recycling or making automobile batteries.
• Healthy diet – the body can mistake lead for calcium, potassium, or iron, having a diet rich in these nutrients may lower the risk of lead absorption, recommend eating nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium.   Those with good diets will absorb less lead.
• No bare areas in soil, lead from previous renovations, rain run-off, lead in gasoline, areas by heavy traffic – plant grass to cover soil