1. LEAD LaTonya Wright, Ph.D. student Walden University PH 8165-00278
Instructor: Dr. Shana Morrell
Spring, 2009
Hello, my name is Latonya Wright. Today, I will discuss lead and the impact it has on public health and reducing the impact in our Community.

2. What is Lead?
Lead is a soft gray metal that is a naturally occurring element in the earth.
ATSDR. (2007). Lead Toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. Retrieved April, 4, 2009 from
Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant. The Secretary of the Department of Health Services called lead the “number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States”.

3. LEAD
Lead was banned in the U.S. in About 83% of older homes built before 1978 may have been painted with non- lead paint. ATSDR. (2007). Lead Toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. Retrieved April, 4, 2009 from
Before it was known to be harmful, lead was used in paint , gasoline, water pipes, and other products. Old lead-based paint is the most significant source of lead exposure in the U. S. today. The use of lead was banned in the U.S. in 1978, however, if your home was built before that it may contain lead based paint on the walls .

4. How can I be exposed to lead?
Harmful exposures to lead can be created when lead-based paint is improperly removed from surfaces by dry scraping, sanding, and open flame burning.
Also you can be exposed to lead by:
paint, gas, water, children toys, and medicines.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2009). An introduction to indoor air quality: Lead. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from
Airborne lead enters the body when you breathe or swallow lead particles or dust once it has settled.

5. Exposure to Lead continued
The amount of lead found in dust in the home environment is very important because lead dust levels is a cause for children’s blood lead levels
ATSDR. (2007). Lead Toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. Retrieved April, 4, 2009 from
You can ingest leaded paint , dust , or soil from your homes. Parents did you know that your windows, porches , and doors are leading causes for lead exposure

6. Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
Headaches
Muscles & joint weakness or pain
Excessive tiredness or lethargy
Behavioral problems or irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Loss of appetite
Stomach pain, upset stomach or vomiting
Constipation
City of Dallas (2006)
The symptoms of lead that parents, teachers, and grandparents can look for are : headaches, stomach pain, upset stomach or vomiting.

7. Health Effects of Lead
Lead can affect practically all systems in the body. High levels of lead can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. EPA, 2009).
The effects of lead exposure on fetuses and children can be severe, which include delays in physical & mental development, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans, increased behavioral problems.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2009). An introduction to indoor air quality: Lead. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from
The effects of lead can practically affect all symptoms in the body. High levels of lead can cause convulsions, coma, and even death.
Lower levels of lead can cause adverse health effects on the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells.
Children may have higher exposure because they are more likely to get lead dust on their hands and put them in their mouth.

8. Does your Child have lead poisoning?
The only way to tell is by getting a blood test
There are lead Screening Guidelines for all Texas Children
It is recommended that all children have a blood lead test at 1 year old and 2 years old. It is a requirement for (Medicaid and TH steps clients).
All blood lead results are reported to Texas Department of State Health Services Lead Registry.
City of Dallas (2006). _services_lead. html
There is only one way to know if your child has been exposed to lead and that is to have them tested. In Texas, it is required that all children ages 1 and 2 have blood lead test.

9. Does your child have lead poisoning?
According to CDC, (2006)Dallas County had 38,115 children that were tested for lead, 121 were confirmed lead cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
In Dallas County 38,115 children were tested for lead and 121 of them were positive lead cases.

10. Reducing Lead risk
There are several things that can be done to reduce the risk of lead exposure such as :
Keep areas where children play as dust free as possible
Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition
Do not bring lead based paint into your home
If you work or have a hobby that involves lead, change clothes before entering your home
Eat a balanced diet, rich in calcium and iron.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2009). An introduction to indoor air quality: Lead. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from
To reduce the risk of lead exposure parents can keep the area where children play free from dust, don’t bring lead into your home , and eat a balanced meal, rich in calcium and iron.

11. Reducing Lead risk
Parents can reduce their children’s exposure to lead by :
Make sure all paint is in good condition
Wash children's hands often
If your home was built before 1978 have it tested for lead.
If you work around lead paint, wash your hand carefully & change clothes before going home
ATSDR. (2007). Lead Toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. Retrieved April, 4, 2009 from
Wash children’s hands often, if you live in an older home built before 1978, have it tested for lead. Also if you work around lead paint wash your hands and change clothes before going home.

12. LEAD Many children live in communities that are
disproportionately impacted by environmental
exposures. Improving the health and environment of
these children should be a major priority.
Healthy children grow into healthy adults. The
health of our children is one of the most important
investments that we can make and it should be among
our top priorities.
CEHN.( 2006)Children and Lead. Children’s Environmental Health network. Retrieved April 16, 2009 from
It is up to the parents, teachers, grandparents, and the communities in which we live to help reduce the risk that lead pose to our children.

13. City of Dallas Lead Testing Sites
West Dallas Multipurpose Center- Walk- in site- Monday – Friday
The city offers free lead testing sites in various zip codes through out the year.
Contact the City of Dallas Lead Program for more information at (214)
City of Dallas, (2006).
City of Dallas www. dallascityhall.com/ehs/health_services_lead.html
The City of Dallas offers free lead testing for children at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center Monday through Friday.
The city also offer free lead testing at various locations throughout the year, you can contact the City Lead Program at ( 214) for more information.

14. Additional Resources
In Texas the contact person is at the Texas Department of State Health Services( DSHS)
dshs.state.tx.us/lead/default
City of Dallas Department of Environmental & Health Services Childhood lead Poisoning Prevention Program
City of Dallas, (2006). City of Dallas www. Dallascityhall.com/ehs/health_services_lead.html
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www. cdc.gov
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
( ATSDR) www. Atsdr.gov
For additional resources about lead, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), the city of Dallas lead poisoning prevention program.

15. Reference List
ATSDR. (2007). Lead Toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. Retrieved April, 4, 2009 from
CEHN.( 2006)Children and Lead. Children’s Environmental Health network. Retrieved April 16, 2009 from
City of Dallas (2006).
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2009). An introduction to indoor air quality: Lead. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from