Lead is a heavy metal that was used in many materials and products before the risk to young children was known. Lead poisoning is caused by ingestion or inhalation of lead particles. All amounts are harmful to one's health, even very small amounts. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for infants and children because they are still developing and absorb lead more easily. They also have a greater risk of lead being absorbed through their skin.

Infant's higher respiratory rates give them an intake of air per unit body weight that is three times higher per day than an adult's air intake. Children's physical location due to their short stature and tendency to spend much of their time on the floor or ground, coupled with the likelihood that they are more apt to put things in their mouths suggests that they are at particular risk to environmental stressors that may cause damage.

Growth of the brain and nervous system may be affected resulting in lifelong cognitive and behavioral effects. In addition to a lower IQ, other effects of lead poisoning could cause hearing loss, anemia, and kidney damage.

Sources of lead

The most common source of lead poisoning in young children is exposure through contact with lead contaminated paint and dust. However, other sources also exist, for example:

€ Children's jewelry sold in vending machines and large volume discount stores across the country

€ If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes

€ Foods and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain

€ Painted toys and furniture sometimes contain lead

€ Some hobbies may expose you to lead, such as pottery, stained glass making or refinishing furniture

How to prevent lead

poisoning

There are steps that you can take to prevent lead poisoning:

€ Keep children away from paint chips

€ Damp-mop floors and wet wipe surfaces twice a week

€ Wash your child's hands often, especially before eating

€ Wash toys often, especially teething toys

€ Don't bring lead home from work - people who work in construction, plumbing, painting or auto repair can be exposed; wash work clothes separately and don't wear work shoes in your home

€ Keep children away from remodeling work - old paint can have lead in it, especially if your home was built before 1978

€ Never dry-sand paint from walls in an older home (pre-1978) - during the work, you might stir up dust or create fumes containing lead; this can be very dangerous for adults, children and pets -always use a method that creates the least amount of dust and fumes

€ Thoroughly wash your children's hands if they have been playing outdoors in the soil

€ Feed your family foods high in iron and calcium such as peas, beans, dairy products

Get tested

It is easier to prevent lead poisoning than it is to treat it. Also, symptoms do not always show until it is too late. Children should be tested on or before their first birthday and again at 2 years of age. Ideally, the pediatrician will initiate testing and give the parent a prescription to take to a local lab.

If unable to visit the pediatrician, the Health Department will test your children at immunization clinics that alternate Tuesday mornings and afternoons. Call 253-1560 for an appointment.

Our WIC (Women, Infants and Children) staff can also refer you for lead testing. Call WIC at 253-1412 for more information.

If you are not able to schedule a lead test through your pediatrician, the Immunization Clinic or the WIC office, testing can be performed at the Health Department at 8 Dill St. by appointment. Call 253-1560 for scheduling.

Learn more

Call (800) 424-LEAD to learn how to protect children from lead poisoning and for other information on lead hazards. To access lead information via the Internet, visit www.epa.gov/lead and www.hud.gov/offices/lead. The EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline is (800) 426-4791 for information about lead in drinking water. To request information on lead in consumer products, call (800)

638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.

Elane Daly is director of Health and Human Services for Cayuga

County. She can be reached at

253-1560 or cchealth@dfa.state.ny.us