PA is urging parents, teaches, news media and environmental agencies in spreading the message “Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,” during the National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 20-26. Young children are at the most risk from lead poisoning. The most common way that children become exposed to lead is by breathing or swallowing dust or chips of lead based paint, which is often found in and around housing, schools or child-care facilities built prior to 1978, when lead-based residential paints were banned in the U.S.

Lead poisoning can be easily diagnosed with simple testing of your home and child for lead contamination. Find out if your home, school or daycare was built before 1978. In children, a blood test can identify lead poisoning. The best way to prevent lead poisoning is by washing hands, running the tap and using cold water for cooking. Pregnant women should stay away from folk medicines like Greta or Azarcon or cosmetics like Kohl and Surma, which are known to contain lead.

EPA issued a rule aimed at preventing lead poisoning under which beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. The state of Kentucky as well as Louisville Metro Government offer Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs.

 

Following are good sources of information on Lead Poisoning:

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes

http://www2.epa.gov/lead

http://leadfreekids.org/

1-800-424-LEAD (5323)