Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The key is to stop children from coming into contact with lead and treating those who have been poisoned by it.
Young children often place their toys, fingers, and other objects in their mouth as part of their normal development.
And this puts them in contact with lead paint or dust. The most common sources of lead exposure for children are chips and particles of old lead paint, which they tend to swallow.
And it harms the child’s heath, affecting their IQ resulting in underperformance at school, among other things.
Lead, which is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell, may be found in other sources too. Besides toys and toy jewellery, these sources include imported candies and cosmetics; pottery and ceramics; drinking water contaminated by lead leaching from a lead pipe, valves, and from tea kettles and vinyl mini-blinds.
Additionally, a variety of work and hobbies and products expose adults also to lead.
Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease of young children.
And if you suspect your child has had exposure to lead, check with your nearest doctor, advices the CDC.
Source: CDC