U ta h ’s K i d s a n d

Lea d P o i s o n i n g

get TestedMany doctors routinely test for lead poisoning in young children, but if for any reason you suspect your child may have been exposed to lead, talk to your health care provider to have your child tested.

n u t r i t i o n

__Has your child lived in or regularly visited a home,child care facility, or other building built before 1978, especially with recent or ongoing painting, repair, and/or remodeling?

__Does your child have a sibling, parent, or other playmate with lead poisoning?

__Does your child spend time with anyone who has a job or hobby where they may work with lead?

__ Target shooting__ Fishing__ Stained glass work__ Pottery__ Hunting

__ Painter__ Remodeler__ Miner

Hobbies Jobs

__Do you have pottery/ceramics created in other countries or lead crystal or pewter that are used for cooking, storing, or serving food?

__Has your child ever used any traditional, imported, or home remedies/cosmetics such as Asarcon, Alarcon Gret, Ayurvedic, Rueda, Pay-loo-ah, or Kohl?

__Has your child ever eaten candy imported from other countries?

__Do you have concerns about your child’s development?

__Do you have jewelry from other countries?

www.utahleadcoalition.org

Is my child at risk?

Are your kids at risk?

Good nutrition and a balanaced diet containing foods rich in Vitamin C, Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium may help decrease

the absorption of lead.

For Calcium:

• milk • yogurt• cheese• kale• turnip• collard greens• canned salmon/

sardines

For Iron:

• lean red meats• iron-fortified

cereal, bread, & pasta

• raisins or prunes• beans and lentils

For Vitamin C:

• fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits

• tomatoes• peppers• potatoes• kiwi• guava• cauliflower

For Zinc/Magnesium:

• legumes• nuts• seeds• oatmeal• dark chocolate• spinach• black beans• avocado

Children can be hurt by lead and not act or look sick.

Did you know?

How can lead poisoning affect

my child?

How can i protect my

child?

• Homes and apartments built before 1978 may have lead paint. Have this checked out by a lead-certified professional.

• Check your home for peeling paint, paint-chips, and dust on floors and window sills.

• Clean up paint chips immediately and keep paint in good condition.

• Use lead-safe work methods or hire a lead-safe contractor for renovation, repair, and painting projects.

• Keep the areas where your child plays clean. Regularly wet-mop floors, wipe clean window sills and other surfaces that may contain lead dust.

• Wash your child’s hands often, especially before meals and after playing outside.

• Clean or remove your shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in soil that may contain lead.

• Have your child play on grass instead of bare soil.

• Provide a sandbox filled with lead-free sand.

• Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula. Run the water until it feels cold (30 -120 seconds).

• Do not use home remedies or cosmetics that may contain lead.

• Do not use imported, old, or handmade pottery to cook, store, or serve food or drink.

• If you work with lead in your job or hobby, change clothes and shower before you go home.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES VISIT:

WWW.UTAHLEADCOALITION.ORG

• Reading and learning problems

• Lowered intelligence• Behavior problems• Brain damage• Slowed growth

Children can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing dust that contains lead. Since even small amounts can be harmful, young children are especially at risk for lead poisoning, which can slow growth and development. The effects of lead poisoning can stay with a child through life.

LEAD POISONING IS PREVENTABLE!

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? household items:Toys, makeup, ceramic pottery, lead crystal, and pewter items can contain lead. Not to mention candy from other countries. It is important to know where your household items are coming from.

Plumbing:Older pipes may contain lead. When water sits in the pipes it absorbs and picks up lead. If this happens, the water you use for drinking, cooking, or mixing baby formula can cause lead poisoning.

soil:Soil around homes and apartment buildings may contain lead. Children may come into contact with lead by playing in bare dirt. Lead in the soil may get on vegetables if planted in the garden.

work & hobbies:Lead can be brought into the home from certain workplaces (such as: miners, people who remodel homes, and painters) or from certain hobbies (like making stained glass, fishing with lead sinkers, or from bullets).

Paint:Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. If the paint is chipping, peeling, or chalking it may be a problem. Windows, doors, steps, and porches are areas where surfaces rub together to make lead dust.

dust:Lead dust is the main source of lead poisoning. Lead dust mixes with household dust and then gathers on surfaces, in carpets, and on toys especially during home remodel and repairs.