National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is Oct. 20 – Oct. 26
NASHUA, NH – The number of children in New Hampshire with elevated lead levels in their blood is increasing to near pre-pandemic levels, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 2022 lead data brief.
“Lead poisoning is an environmental issue that could cause lifelong effects, especially on children, like lower IQ, speech delays, behavioral issues [and] cognitive delays, and this can lead to incarceration,” said Ebram Aziz, public health nurse for the City of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services.
Children under 6 years old are especially at risk to such detrimental effects due to their blood brain barrier not yet being well formed. This means lead can travel to the brain, harming the frontal cortex, the portion of the brain responsible for decision making. The body also confuses lead for calcium, storing it in the bones.
“[There have been] some really extensive studies on people followed throughout their lifetime, and they did see that increase in criminal behavior due to their poor judgment,” nurse Sascha Stroms said. “Even simply people with ADHD were most likely lead poisoned when they were a child.”
Exposure to lead
According to the data brief, 70 percent of childhood lead exposure in the United States came from lead paint in housing. In 2022, 816 children in New Hampshire were poisoned from lead paint in older homes alone.
Lead paint was banned in the United States in 1978, but many homes – especially in New England – were built before then.
“If you see your kids going to the windowsill and chewing on [it] and then going back again, it’s probably because it tastes sweet [because] there’s lead paint on the window,” Stroms said. “Also, lead will break down into a dust, but because it’s heavy, dry sweeping or cleaning will not actually pick up the lead. You have to wet clean and have moisture. It only takes a grain of lead the size of a grain of sand to poison a child.”
The exterior of many houses were painted with lead paint due to its durability. As the paint deteriorates, lead particles usually fall and land within a three foot radius of the house. In that case, Aziz recommends not growing produce or gardening within that radius. To prevent children from digging in the soil, storms recommends adding grass, a thick layer of mulch, or a tarp with mulch on top to create a barrier.
Paint isn’t the only source of lead your child could be exposed to. In fact, there are many products that have recently been recalled for containing lead according to the FDA and United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Such products include …
Testing
According to Aziz, New Hampshire is a universal testing state, meaning all children at one and two years old have to be tested for lead. However, data found that in 2022, only 77 percent of one year olds and 57% of two year olds were tested.
“Between one and two is when [children are] really more active and they start touching more surfaces and putting their hands in their mouths, so it increases their risk,” Stroms said. “Most children look perfectly healthy. It wouldn’t even know they had elevated blood lead levels until you get them tested.”
The sooner lead poisoning is detected, the sooner the child can receive a developmental assessment and case management which can result in better outcomes for the child.
It is also important for women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant because if there is a lead in their bones that their body mistakes for calcium, the lead can be given to the unborn child.
Prevention and treatment
“If a child has very high levels of lead in their blood – 45 micrograms per deciliter or more – then chelation is recommended,” Stroms said.
However, she said that chelation is only recommended if it is confirmed the child’s environment is safe and they won’t be further exposed to lead, since chelation compromises the immune system and is very hard on the body.
However, there are other ways to help a child with high lead levels, such as lifestyle habits and diet changes.
According to Stroms, children with lead poisoning also tend to be iron deficient. For this reason, it is important to increase iron intake and also vitamin C intake, as vitamin C will help the body absorb iron and calcium.
Since the brain is a muscle, it is also important to work out the brain through songs, reading books and engaging in other activities that enhance cognitive development to prevent future cognitive delays, Aziz added.
“One of the number one ways [to prevent lead poisoning] is [with] frequent hand washing with soap and water,” Stroms said. “Hand sanitizer will not remove it from your hands and children touch everything and then put their hands in their mouth, so you want to make sure their toys are cleaned regularly, your home is clean and free of lead and lead dust to protect your child.”
According to the 2022 data brief, “Children from low-income households are at a higher risk of lead exposure.”
Fortunately, there is lead abatement assistance available through HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and through the state.
Also, depending on income, some families may qualify for WIC (Women, infants and Children Nutrition Program), which can help tailor nutritional needs and provide food that is high in calcium, iron and vitamins.