(Little Rock, Ark.) – National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) highlights how parents, caregivers, and communities can lower children’s exposure to lead and avoid its serious health effects. To raise awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are participating in NLPPW from October 19-25.
The ADH will be participating in multiple activities in Arkansas throughout the week. To learn more about lead exposure, visit ADH’s Lead-Based Paint program at the following events in support of NLPPW:
- Friday, October 24: City of Little Rock Employee Health Fair, Little Rock, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Thursday, October 30: Big Boo!seum Bash, Witt Stephens Jr. Nature Center, Little Rock, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 1: Vestido Rojo, Gujarati Samaj of Arkansas (GSA), Little Rock, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lead has been banned from use in paint and gasoline in the United States since the 1970s. It is toxic to the human body, especially in young children. Exposure to lead can cause lead poisoning, which occurs when lead enters the bloodstream and builds up to toxic levels. It is hazardous for children six and younger, as their bodies are still developing and growing rapidly. The effects of lead poisoning during early childhood development can be severe. Even in small amounts, lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, resulting in learning and behavior problems, delayed growth and development, and other health-related problems. Some of these effects may persist beyond childhood. For pregnant women, harmful effects include premature births, smaller babies, and miscarriage. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
Despite the continued presence of lead in the environment, lead poisoning is preventable. The key is preventing children from coming into contact with lead. In 2023, 277 children in Arkansas were reported to have an elevated blood lead level.
A common source of lead exposure is from deteriorated lead-based paint. This paint was used inside and outside many homes built before 1978, as well as in other buildings and steel structures, which may be nearby or adjacent to homes. According to the CDC, 3.3 million American households with children under six years old have lead exposure hazards from lead in deteriorated paint, dust, or soil. Children can also be exposed to lead in drinking water, take-home exposures from a workplace, lead in soil, and from some metal toys or toys painted with lead-based paint. A simple blood test may be able to help prevent permanent damage from occurring.
The NLPPW theme, “Bright futures begin lead-free,” underscores the importance of learning how to prevent lead poisoning and testing your home and your child.
Parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead in many ways. Here are some simple ways to protect your family:
- Get the Facts: Find out about the hazards of lead. ADH can provide you with helpful information about preventing childhood lead poisoning. Contact them at 501-671-1472 or review the ADH Lead-Based Paint program webpage.
- Get Your Child Tested: A blood test is the best way to find out if a child has lead poisoning. Consult your doctor for advice on testing your children.
- Get Your Home Tested: Find out how to minimize risks of lead exposure by hiring a certified professional to test older homes for lead. Water pipes in some older homes may contain lead solder, which can leach lead into the water. Learn more about lead in drinking water at the EPA Drinking Water webpage.
The only way to fully remove lead from a pre-1978 home is to remove it. Abatement should always be made by a state-certified contractor. Abatement involves the removal of lead-based paint and dust-lead hazards; the permanent covering or encapsulation of lead-based paint; the replacement of parts or fixtures painted with lead-based paint; and the removal or permanent covering of soil-lead hazards, as well as all set-up, cleanup, disposal, and post-abatement clearance testing actions linked to such measures. For a list of Arkansas lead-accredited companies and personnel, please visit the ADH Lead-Based Paint program webpage.
Owners of homes built before 1978 who do not wish to fully abate or remove lead hazards should exercise caution when disturbing lead-based paint. Homeowners should only hire federally certified Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) program contractors to ensure that the work is done in a lead-safe manner. This protects people living in the home from hazards connected with renovation, repair, and painting. Done in the wrong way, these activities can create harmful lead dust when lead paint is disturbed.
Further steps you can take to reduce exposure are:
- Wash your child’s hands before meals and after playing outside.
- Provide your child with meals and snacks high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C.
- Frequently wash toys, pacifiers, and other items your child uses regularly.
- Use wet methods to clean, including dusting and mopping.
- Have your family members leave their shoes outside the door.
- Ensure that any home renovation and maintenance work is done in a lead-safe way.
For more information, contact the Lead-Based Paint program at 501-671-1472 or the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.