Question

Discuss the health effects of lead exposure upon children. What are the potential sources of lead exposure for children and what specific measures can parents practice to prevent or reduce these exposures? Integrate specific examples from course material in your response. Be specific use supportive evidence and be detailed in response

Answer 1

Lead is particularly a harmful substance that can enters the childrens body through inhalation, swallowing and rarely absorbed through the skin.  It can damage red blood cells and limit their ability to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues that need it, thus causing anemia.

Health effects of lead exposure upon children

• It decreases the bone and muscle growth.
• It leads poor muscle coordination.
• It will damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or hearing.
• Will develop hearing, speech and language problems.
• All around developmental delay.
• It will affect the Nervous system causing seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of extremely high lead levels).

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Potential sources of lead exposure to childrens

1. Childrens living in old homes; Because the paints manufactured before late 1970s containing lead. This was banned by US government by 1970. So the childrens living in such houses have the risk to develop lead poisoning.

2. Those who immigrate to the United States or are adopted from a foreign country that doesn't regulate the use of lead.

3. Children with a history of the disorder pica (persistent and compulsive cravings to eat non-food items, like dirt, paint chips, or clay) also are at risk for lead poisoning.

4. Childrens playing in lead contaminated soil.

5. The child who drinks water that flows through old lead pipes or faucets, if the pipes begin to break down.

6. If the children plays with some toys, jewelry, hobby, and sports objects (like stained glass, ink, paint, and plaster)

7. If the food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead, or imported from countries that use lead to seal canned food.

8. In some of the folk or home remedies, such as greta and azarcon (used to treat an upset stomach).

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Specific measures can parents practice to prevent lead exposure and poisoning.

Bascially the prevention is focused more on avoiding contact with the lead stained objects

1. The parents or guest should take off shoes before entering the house.

2. Wipe shoes off - this will help prevent lead dust and soil from getting into your house.

3. The parents should not childrens playing in areas where bare soil is exposed.

4. Avoid using imported home remedies or cosmetics that contain lead.

5. Feed your child regular meals with a diet high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C and low in fat which decreases the absorption of lead.

6. Wash the child's hands and face frequently, especially before eating.

7. Clean up paint chips and peeling paint safely.Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint

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Supportive evidence

 Lead poisoning is the most significant and prevalent disease of environmental origin among US children. The removal of lead from gasoline, which began in the United States in 1972 and was completed in 1995, has resulted in almost fourfold reductions in median blood lead levels in US children from 1976 to 1991. Increased screening and interventions to identify and abate lead sources, such as lead in housing, also contributed to this major public health success.

The prevalence of childhood lead poisoning is largely determined by two factors: age and proximity to environmental sources or media contaminated by lead. Other factors that have been associated with increased levels of lead in blood—sex, income, race, place of residence—are mostly predictors of exposure.

However, the campaign for prevention foundered by the end of the 1980s for three reasons. First, the “easy” tasks of source reduction (removing lead from gasoline, paint, and plumbing) were accomplished. Yet lead poisoning has not disappeared. A disease with a national prevalence of 5% cannot be considered to have been eradicated, as the US government once pledged to eradicate childhood lead poisoning.

PREVENTING LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN

Annual Review of Public Health

Vol. 18:187-210 (Volume publication date May 1997)