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What is lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning occurs when lead is swallowed. The lead then gets into the bloodstream, and the child's body mistakes the lead for calcium and sends it to parts of the body where calcium is normally found, causing damage to the body and brain. 

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), lead poisoning is one of the most serious health threats to children that is found in and about their homes, if a child has resided in a house or apartment that was built before 1978. Currently, it is believed that nearly 500,000 children across the country, aged 1-5 years, have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood in their bodies. Blood lead levels above 10 mg/dl can signify lead poisoning.

In the natural environment, the mineral lead is classified as a heavy metal. In a child's body, lead is classified as a neurotoxin, meaning that it negatively affects the brain. Children are most acutely at risk for lead poisoning because their young bodies absorb lead much more readily than adults.

In fact, if severe enough, lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body, and at very high blood lead exposure levels above 70 mg/dl, it can result in seizures, coma, and even death. At less extreme exposure blood lead levels, less than 40 micrograms per deciliter of blood, a child may not look or feel sick even though that child is being poisoned and has dangerous amounts of lead in his or her body. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems at lower exposure levels.

The CDC mandates that the blood levels of children should not exceed 10 micrograms per deciliter. A blood level exceeding 10 signifies an "action level" where health providers must present information and counseling to the child's parent(s), and provide a variety of other interventions, including home inspection, and medical treatment if the lead level is higher than 10 mg/dl. Visit the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org for more information.