State urges lead level testing for children

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says there is a silent environmental hazard that can have harmful effects on children's learning and behavior.

Lead poisoning is one of today's major preventable environmental health problems, according to a KDHE Web site, www.unleadks.com.

Lead levels in a child's body can cause learning and behavioral difficulties, and if the levels become high enough, they can cause seizures, coma and sometimes death.

KDHE has created a program called the Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Prevention Program to establish a facility of trained personnel to screen, identify and recommend proper medical treatment and environmental management for lead-poisoned children, the Web site said.

According to Public Health Nurse Alice Maffett of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, treatment for lead poisoning in children varies depending on the level of lead in the child's blood stream. For children who have small elevations of lead, Maffett said that a diet change may help lower the amount of lead in the blood. A diet high in iron, protein, vitamin C and calcium and low in fats and oils may be helpful. A written document provided by Maffett said that a full stomach is less likely to absorb lead.

If a blood test reveals high levels of lead in a child's body, Maffett said, it is important to educate the affected child's parent or guardian on the sources of lead. Maffett said it is important to help the parents discover where the child is coming into contact with the lead.

In addition to discovering the source of the lead, Maffett said that she will work with parents to help them learn how to clean their houses to remove any lead that is present. Carpets should either be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner that contains a High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filter, or carpets should be removed from the floor and replaced with new carpet, or if there is hardwood, it can be left bare. Anything in the house with loose paint chips should be cleaned and sealed, and the paint chips should be discarded. After the painted area has been sealed, it should be covered with two coats of quality paint, Maffett said.

Also, it is important to prevent children from playing in outside areas that contain large amounts of soil. Children should play in grassy areas, Maffett said. In addition, anyone who enters the house should remove shoes before entering. The removal of shoes will help keep dirt from being tracked into the house and ultimately aid in keeping the children safe from getting lead poisoning. Maffett said that a door mat can also help keep dirt from being tracked into the house. If dirt does get tracked into the house, Maffett said, it is easy for little children to get it on their hands, and the next time they put their hands into their mouths they might be putting lead into their mouths, too. Since little ones often put not only their hands in their mouths, but also their toys, it is very important to make sure small children wash their hands very often. Maffett also suggests that parents wash toys, pacifiers and anything that might find its way into a child's mouth.

In some cases, children can be exposed to lead poisoning by old water pipes. Maffett said parents should use cold tap water to cook with and drink. She suggests allowing the cold water to run for about one minute before using it, especially first thing in the morning since it has set all night. This helps clear the pipes and limits the probability of lead poisoning.

Should an extremely high level of lead be found in a child's blood, Maffett and Kansas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program case management coordinator Shannon Babcock would complete an environmental investigation at the child's residence to figure out where the lead exposure is coming from. Babcock would take exterior and interior samples at the house, while Maffett would complete a lengthy survey with the parents or guardians regarding the home and the child. The educational survey helps the parents understand the special steps that need to be taken for the child's blood lead level to return to normal.

In cases where lead levels are alarmingly high, a physician may recommend Chelation Therapy, which is the process of injecting ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid into the blood. This binds the metals and allows them to be removed from the body in the urine.

Maffett said children who are at risk may get tested at the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, or parents can discuss the testing with their child's physician. There are several factors that may cause a child to have high lead levels. Children who are 12 to 24 months of age should have their lead levels tested in addition to children under the age of six who have never been tested for lead poisoning. Also, if a parent can answer "yes" to any of the following questions, he or she should visit with his or her child's physician:

* Does the child live in or visit a house or apartment built before 1960?

* Does the child live in or regularly visit a house or apartment built before 1960 with previous, ongoing or planned renovation remodeling?

* Does the child have a family member with an elevated blood lead level?

* Does the child interact with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead?

* Does the child live near a lead smelter, battery plant or other lead industry?

* Does the child use pottery, ceramic or crystal wear for cooking, eating or drinking?

Maffett said children who have had high blood levels in their blood should be monitored until the lead level returns to normal. According to a document provided by Maffett, the child's blood should be retested until two blood lead levels are less than 10 micrograms per deciliter within 12 weeks, all lead hazards have been identified, housing is made lead safe, and no new exposure exists.

For more information about lead poisoning, visit the KDHE Web site, contact a local physician or call Maffett at (620) 223-4464.