Lead Exposure: Know the Signs

Aug. 14, 2007 — -- With Tuesday's announcement by Mattel Inc. of a second toy recall in as many weeks — due in part to lead poisoning fears — many parents may be worried about whether their children have been exposed to dangerous levels of the toxin.

Unfortunately, lead is notoriously hard to detect in the home environment and determining whether your child has been poisoned can also be challenging. The good news, however, is that parents can take steps to prevent exposure — and, if necessary, take advantage of treatment options for their exposed children.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been used in a variety of products in the past and continues to surface in products today. Exposure to lead can lead to a wide range of ill effects for adults and children alike; however, childhood poisoning is both more frequent and more dangerous.

Though lead exposure among children has decreased over the decades, recent estimates by the National Safety Council suggest that 400,000 children younger than 6 still have unacceptably high levels of lead in their blood.

If untreated, elevated lead levels may lead to the following health impacts in children, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Because their brains and central nervous system are still developing, younger children — those younger than 6 — are particularly vulnerable to lead's harmful health effects. Even very low levels of exposure in this age group can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities and other cognitive side effects. Lead poisoning has also been associated with juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior.

The highest level of exposure may cause mental retardation. A child also runs the risk of falling into a coma or even dying from lead poisoning, though this is rare.