Lead exposure is associated with damage to the immune and reproductive systems, as well as blood disorders. In fact, the detrimental impact of lead exposure led federal, state, and local institutions to impose regulations to lessen its potential risks. Despite these efforts to mitigate the issue (which have been in effect since the 1970s), a new study shows problems still persist. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics in September 2021, notes that children in low-income housing are still exposed to the substance at a high rate. The findings show that more work remains to help keep all children safe from the consequences of lead exposure. Experts note that there is no safe blood lead level for children, and though many measures have been enacted, more work still needs to be done. Along with gathering information on the blood lead levels (BLLs), investigators also gathered demographic information, such as sex, age, insurance type, race, ethnicity, and whether they lived in pre-1950s housing. The details allowed them to uncover associations between the children’s socioeconomic circumstances and the levels of lead detected in their blood. The study found that there was widespread exposure to lead among the participants. In fact, more than half of the children had detectable BLLs. Youth living in pre-1950s housing, as well as those living at the poverty level, had significantly elevated levels of lead exposure. “These results are significant because, despite tremendous progress that has been made over the past 50 years in eliminating lead from common sources, children are still being exposed to legacy sources of lead in their environments,” states Marissa Hauptman, MD, MPH, FAAP, lead author of the study and associate director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Environmental Health Center.
Keeping Kids Safe From Lead
Government and environmental agencies have long recognized the danger posed by blood lead levels in children. “Lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and speech delays," says Deanna Durica, the director of the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program at the Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois. “It may take time for these issues to develop for the child and affect them even after the source of lead exposure has been identified and remediated.” Studies have also found that exposure to lead can contribute to an elevated risk of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a Lead Poisoning Prevention program in 1991. Their website also provides information on a number of initiatives taken to curb lead exposure. These acts and numerous others made steps in the right direction to protect children and adults from interaction with lead. In some lower-income areas, however, they are not enough. “Children who are African American and who live in low-income families are disproportionately more likely to face housing inequity," says Paul Allwood, PhD, MPH, Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch Chief, at the National Center for Environmental Health. “These populations are less likely to have access to quality, safe housing. This inequity makes these populations more susceptible to lead poisoning from living in homes that contain lead-based paint, lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures.”
Taking Proactive Steps
Online resources offer an abundance of information on the toxic dangers of lead. Parents can take proactive steps to help their children. This can include having any home built before 1978 checked for lead-based paint or fixtures, as well as testing residential water for lead. You can also lessen the spread of contaminated dust by removing or wiping dirt off of shoes before entering the home. Finally, it’s important to steer clear of any toys, jewelry, or cosmetics that contain lead. Experts note that what a child eats can make a difference, too. “Nutrition also plays a role,” Dr. Hauptman says. “If children have iron deficiency, they are going to absorb more lead from their gastrointestinal tracts than children without iron deficiency.” Foods such as beans, chicken and turkey, egg yolks, and more contain high iron levels. Parents should reach out to their child’s doctor with any concerns or questions about lead exposure or testing. However, the most helpful measure a parent can take is stopping exposure before it starts. “Children can experience harm at any blood lead level. The focus should always be on preventing exposure in the first place,” Dr. Allwood concludes.
