Farmerspring2017EH2000: Blog-3: Lead poisoning in children

https://www.stlawco.org/Departments/PublicHealth/LeadScreeningProgram

135,010 children were tested in 2014 for lead poisoning in the state of Ohio. The threshold for lead poisoning in Ohio is five μg/dL or higher. 4,596 children were confirmed 5 μg/dL or higher. That is about 3 percent of the overall number of children tested. 1,298 children were confirmed having a blood lead level of 10 μg/dL or higher. This is about .85 percent of the number of children tested. There were 569 public health investigations, and 1100 individuals were Ohio Health Department certified to conduct lead hazard work. 775 notifications for lead abatement projects were received. These numbers led to two state wide campaigns and one statewide conference for lead poisoning in the state.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Ohio_highlighting_Stark_County.svg

In Stark county, 4,731 out of the 154, 440 children were screened for lead poisoning. 760 children in Stark county that were screened had a blood lead level between 5-9 μg/dL. 13 children that were screened in Stark county had a blood lead level between 10-14 μg/dL. 15 Stark county children that were screened had a blood lead level between 15-19 μg/dL. Nine children that were screened in Stark county had a blood lead level 25 μg/dL or higher. Lead can be exposed to a person in a variety of ways. Some cosmetics contain lead in them which leads to lead poisoning when worn multiple as some the chemicals can enter the body. Some foods contain lead, so heavy consumption of these foods can led to lead poisoning. There are some hobbies that include using lead-based materials. An example of this would be painting items like toys or models with lead-based paint that many people have that led to lead poisoning because people will spend hours with these materials as they try to relax and unwind with these hobbies. When lead paint is disturbed, it creates lead dust in the environment that can led to lead poisoning when inhaled or otherwise gets into a person’s blood stream. Other ways lead is introduced to people is when through multiple occupations. These jobs include artists and painters (due to lead-based paint), auto mechanics (car parts may have lead), battery manufactures (batteries contain lead), firing range instructors along with police officers and military members because of bullets, lead miners, plastic manufacturers (due to the materials made can include lead), plumbers and pipe fitters (pipes contain lead), recyclers (most recycle materials can contain lead), and steel welders (galvanized steel is coated with lead), among other occupations. Lead can also enter the environment through contaminated soil, toys made with lead-based paint, and water from areas with elevated levels, among other reasons. There are many ways to reduce lead poisoning in children.

https://www.gohunt.com/read/proposed-ban-lead-bullets

These ways include washing children’s hands often (especially before eating or going to bed), children should also be tested for lead, children’s toys should be washed often, if a home is not deleaded then all loose paint should be taped or covered in contact paper, dusty areas of a house should be scrubbed hard with any cleaner, children should be feed healthy snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables, children should be feed foods that are high in iron and calcium, children should not walk around with their food, and water used in cooking and drinking should be cold, among others.