Public Health and Environment
Children's Environmental Health - Lead
Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal. It occurs naturally in the earth's crust, and human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing have spread it throughout the environment, including our homes and workplaces.
Exposure to lead should be avoided. Lead is highly toxic to humans, especially young children. It has no known physiologic value to the human body. Nearly half a million children living in the United States have blood lead levels high enough to cause irreversible damage to their health.
Because of these health concerns, great effort has been undertaken in the United States over the last two decades to remove lead from gasoline, paints, and many other products. However, lead is still found in ammunition, some batteries, and medical and scientific equipment. Because lead does not breakdown or decompose, lead from past products, such as old paints and discarded batteries, remains in the environment.
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources
- Center for Environmental Health
Action Steps
- Remove the source of lead promptly and safety. If you are unable to remove the source of lead, block area so that children cannot get to it.
- Wet wash floors and wipe down window sills often. Be sure to wash child's hands, face and toys often with soap and water.
- Give your child a good nutritious diet including adequate levels of calcium, iron, vitamin C, and zinc.
-Minnesota Department of Health
