I am wanting to know if any of you have PERSONALLY had a child with a high lead level or maybe have a friend whose children have had that problem. I know that there is TONS of information out there (on the CDC's website, on nonprofits' websites, on the state website) about lead exposure, but really in the end, it seems like it is hard to know for sure what effect it will have on a particular child.
I am asking because we live in a 100+ year old house that we used to think might have lead paint, but now we know it does. Even before now, we have tried to be cautious about it, and we had my lead level tested when I was pregnant with my first, and my oldest daughter's lead level tested when she was 6 months and 1 year old. For both of us, it was never over 4 or 5, which I understand is still considered to be low (although I know there are some people out there that say even that is too high).
But anyways, my youngest just got hers tested at her 9 month check up, and it was 13. I understand that is at the level when they start to be concerned, which of course I really am now, and we just want to know if any of you have had that problem. What sorts of things did you do to limit their exposure? I think one of the reasons my youngest has had this problem, when my oldest didn't, is that my youngest is much more of a chewer in general. Of course, I have never LET her chew on window sill or anything like that, but she is constantly crawling, stopping, then chewing on her fingers or something off of the floor. The minute we sit down, she goes straight for our shoes and tries to put them in her mouth! She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth...I think because she has TONS of teeth, already 7 teeth have come in!
So anyways, have any of you dealt with this? Any suggestions limiting their exposure? Any help is appreciated. I have of course talked to her pediatrician about it, but she seems less concerned than we are. She wants to follow the CDC's recommendation, which is to check it again in 3 months and try to limit exposure, but I just want a little more help/advice/information on anyone's specific situations. We of course feel like horrible parents for letting this happen, so please be sensitive. :)
Thanks in advance!
Well, I started looking around on the internet, and found out that the fingerstick test (which is what was done on my daughter) is not as reliable as the intravenous test, because there is a high risk of contamination on the fingerstick test. So I requested them to do it one more time, and this time intravenously, and it was a 7! We were so relieved. Still, we want to keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't go up, but at least it was the 13, which is above the recommended level 10 cut off. Thanks for all the information!
http://www.evenbetternow.com/heavy-metal-poisoning.asp Look at this site and see if there is any natural way to help get rid of the lead in your child. Hope this helps. I have tried many natural ways to heal problems along with going to a doctor. I have had success.
B.,
We had a similar but less invasive issue with a house we were in a few years ago when I was pregnant with our son. There was mold found all in the attic and under...it was in the ducts and had gotten into the walls, and it wasn't going to be super easy to clean up. We went ahead and got done as much as we could and then sold the house for only a small loss (couple thousand dollars). Now, I know selling the house would be a bit much, especially if you love your home (and most of us that live in these older houses love our homes (ours is early 50's)...I would get an estimate to have contractors remove and repaint. Or ask to see if painting a few latyers over everything would do the trick. Good luck and keep your head up!
This isn't personal but I found it timely & thought I would share. When I got my email from babycenter.com today it has an article about lead poisoning. Here is the link if you would like to check it out:
http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refcap/preschooler/phe...
Just read that another mama responded with the same info! I'll leave it up just in case you want to go their website though.
Hope it helps.
I had a friend whose son was exposed to lead from paint outside their house. I can't remember why it was that he got into it, but I think it had something to do with him playing in the yard and putting rocks in his mouth; apparently, the paint had washed into the ground and onto the rocks. I don't remember the number he tested at, but his levels were extremely high. She was very scared.
Unfortunately, I don't have any advice on how to limit exposure, but my friend used liver to get her son's levels down. She kept a pig liver in her freezer that she had cut up into very small pieces. Whenever she cooked lunch or dinner, she would blend a few liver pieces into whatever she was making. That way, no one could taste it, but the nutrients were in there. It was the only thing that worked for her son, and it worked wonders. He was just two at the time, and he's now a healthy four-year-old with no more lead concerns.
I get parent center email tips weekly and I thought of your post as I opened this one this morning:) How timely LOL
Maybe something here will help :)
Is my preschooler at risk for lead poisoning?
Childhood lead poisoning has been decreasing, but it's still a serious concern. In 1978, about 3 to 4 million children in the United States had elevated levels of lead in their blood. In 2002, that number fell to 310,000, and it's continuing to drop, thanks to awareness of the problem and the banning and phasing out of lead-based products.
The age of your house is an important factor. In general, the older your house is, the more likely it is to have lead-based paint and the greater the amount of lead the paint will have. (Although paint manufacturers began phasing lead out of paint in 1950, the U.S. government didn't ban it completely until 1978.)
Keep in mind that your child may also be at risk if he frequently visits a friend who lives in an older home, attends preschool in an older building, or plays in a yard near an old-home renovation. Older homes are also more likely to have lead pipes, which can leach lead into water used for drinking and cooking.
Your proximity to a freeway or industrial area is important because the lead these sources have put into the air over time is likely to have contaminated the soil nearby. Although the government now bans lead from gasoline, land near a freeway or major thoroughfare may still contain significant amounts of lead from car exhaust years ago.
People with certain jobs and hobbies can inadvertently bring lead residue home on their hands and clothing. If you work with stained glass or pottery, refinish furniture, or visit indoor shooting ranges, be sure to change your clothes and wash your hands before returning home.
Children most commonly get lead poisoning between 1 and 2 years of age. Before they're mobile, babies have very little access to most sources of lead. By the time they're 2, they're less likely to be crawling on the floor and putting their hands in their mouths.
Should I have my preschooler tested?
Routine screening isn't recommended for all children, but you may want to have your child tested if you have concerns about his exposure — if you recently moved to an older house, for example, or a neighbor is renovating an older house.
The screening is a simple blood test. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening at age 1 and 2 for children who live in Medicaid-eligible households, who are considered a high-risk group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that state and local health officials determine the appropriate screening criteria for their areas, so that more children who have been exposed to lead will be screened while children who are at low risk for exposure won't be screened unnecessarily.
Talk with your child's doctor about whether testing your child for lead is a good idea. If you have reason to suspect that your child may have been exposed to lead, insist that he be tested.
How would my child get lead in his body?
Your child can get lead in his body by breathing or swallowing lead dust or by eating soil or paint chips that contain lead. Lead is not absorbed through the skin.
Even if your child isn't chewing on paint chips, he can still get lead into his system if you've got lead-based paint in or around your house. Doors and window frames covered with lead paint release tiny particles of lead dust into the air every time you open or close them. Your child may breathe in this lead dust or pick it up on his hands when it settles on your floors and furniture, then transfer it to his mouth when he eats or puts his fingers in his mouth.
Other common sources of lead include:
• Old furniture, playground equipment, and toys painted or varnished with a lead-based product. (Repainting these items may not be enough. The lead paint may have to be removed through a special process first or at least be sealed in.)
• Old vinyl flooring
• Older plumbing — lead pipes, or copper pipes joined with lead solder
• Older or imported brass faucets
• Brass keys (Don't let your child play with keys.)
• Lead crystal glassware
• Pottery with lead glaze (especially common in ceramics made in developing countries)
• Imported food in cans sealed with lead solder
• Lead fishing weights
Lead occasionally pops up in unexpected places. Some candles have metal-cored wicks that put unsafe amounts of lead into the air when you burn them, for example, so stick to candles with paper or cotton wicks. (The Consumer Product Safety Commission is working on phasing out candles that emit lead, but some may still be imported.)
In 1996, the CDC discovered that some imported vinyl mini-blinds contained lead that had been added to stabilize the plastic. Government tests showed that some of these blinds produced lead dust in dangerous amounts, and the blinds were withdrawn from the market. If your home contains non-glossy vinyl mini-blinds from 1996 or earlier, you should think about replacing them.
To stay abreast of new lead poisoning hazards, check the online list of alerts maintained by the National Safety Council (NCS).
Keep in mind that if you're pregnant and have elevated levels of lead in your blood, you can transfer lead to your baby.
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What about acute lead poisoning?
Fortunately, acute lead poisoning is rare. If you're aware of the sources of lead mentioned here and take the appropriate precautions, the chances of your child developing a serious case of lead poisoning are quite low.
The most likely exceptions would be instances in which a parent is unknowingly giving a child doses of lead. Certain Hispanic and Asian folk remedies — like greta and azarcon, used to treat stomach upset, and pay-loo-ah, used for rash and fever — contain dangerous levels of lead, for example.
Are there symptoms of lead exposure?
Your preschooler may have no symptoms, especially if the levels of lead in his blood are relatively low. As the levels increase, he may have headaches, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, constipation, clumsiness, agitation, sleepiness, vomiting, or convulsions.
What are the health consequences of lead poisoning?
Studies have linked lead in a child's blood to reduced IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems (like hyperactivity, aggression, and delinquency), impaired hearing, stunted growth, and kidney damage. High levels can result in mental retardation, coma, and even death.
If my child does have lead in his blood, what kind of treatment will he need?
In most cases of chronic lead poisoning, doctors don't recommend any specific medical treatment. The key is to identify and remove the source of the lead (see suggestions below). Once your child's exposure is ended, his body will slowly rid itself of lead. This can take months or even years.
If the level of lead in your child's blood is very high, his doctor may recommend a treatment called chelation therapy. Sometimes this therapy can be done orally, but it may require hospitalization and IV medication.
How can I protect my child from lead?
Take these steps to protect your preschooler from lead poisoning:
• Make sure he eats well. If your child is well nourished, his body will be less likely to absorb lead even if he's exposed to it.
• Keep your child's hands clean, especially if he has a habit of putting his fingers in his mouth. Make sure he washes his hands several times a day, particularly when he comes in from playing and before eating a meal or snack (something he should be doing anyway).
• Keep your home clean. Wipe up paint chips and dust with a disposable wet cloth.
How can I tell if there's lead in or around my home?
Much depends upon the age, location, and condition of your home. If you answer yes to any of the following four questions, you should consider having an expert test your home or yard for lead.
• Do you live near a freeway or a lead-heavy industry such as battery recycling or lead smelting?
• Was your house built before 1980? (Approximately 83 percent of homes and 86 percent of public housing built before 1980 contain some lead-based paint.)
• Do you have plumbing that includes lead pipes or copper pipes that have been joined with lead solder?
• Does your home have paint that's chipping or flaking? (Even if paint is lead based, it isn't too worrisome if it's in good condition and not rubbed, chewed, or bumped.)
If you decide to test your house, yard, or water for lead, have a professional do the job. Although do-it-yourself home lead-testing kits are available, studies have shown that these kits are not always accurate. Your state or local health department may perform lead testing, possibly for free. At the very least, they'll be able to refer you to a qualified professional.
If you're concerned about the possibility of lead in your water, call the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. And if you want to test for lead in dishes, glasses, or pottery, call the FDA at (800) 332-4010.
Your state may have its own lead program and different regulations. For more information, contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at (800) 424-5323 (424-LEAD) or visit the NLIC website.
What can I do to protect my child from lead in the dirt around my house?
If testing turns up lead in the soil around your house, you'll want to plant grass or shrubs to prevent children from playing there. In some cases, you may want to have the contaminated soil removed. If you want to plant a vegetable garden, bring in clean topsoil. Finally, remember to wipe dirt off your shoes or remove them before entering your house.
What can I do if I have lead in my pipes?
Even if you have lead pipes, you don't necessarily have to replace your plumbing. Just be sure to use only cold water for cooking or drinking. Hot water leaches lead from plumbing more effectively, so it will have a higher lead content than cold water.
Most experts recommend letting the cold water run for a couple of minutes when you get up in the morning and any other time when no one's run the water for a few hours. This flushes out the water that has been sitting in the pipes overnight.
You might also consider purchasing a filter certified for lead removal. Avoid filters that ionize water, as they make water even more efficient at leaching lead.
What should I do if my home was painted with lead-based paint?
You can have it removed, but this process would put a lot of lead dust into the air in your home, which could be more hazardous than leaving it alone or encapsulating it behind drywall, wallpaper, or paneling. Some experts recommend delaying the removal of lead-based paint until your children are older and less susceptible to its effects.
If you do decide to remove lead paint, have the work done by a professional certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. To be safe, pregnant women and young children should stay elsewhere until the work is done. If this isn't possible, the workers should do one section of the house at a time and seal off their work areas from the rest of the house and yard.
If the paint is in pretty good condition and you decide to leave it alone, remember to periodically wipe any dust off painted surfaces with a wet disposable cloth.
If you're in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, consider one with a HEPA filter. Not only will it trap lead dust particles, it'll clear the air of some possible allergens as well.
