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National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Part 1
In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are kicking off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by talking about lead - what it is, its harmful effects, and what we do in local health if your child tests positive for lead.
What is lead? Lead is a metal found in the natural environment. Over time, it had been found to be useful in things like paint, gasoline, varnish, and car batteries. It increased the durability of paint, made the colors more vibrant, and increased the power generated in gasoline. It was a cheap additive that was introduced to many different things.
Lead poisoned? But I feel fine. The unfortunate thing about lead poisoning is that there are no early symptoms. There is no safe level of lead in any body, and it can be especially harmful for young children and pregnant women. It affects several systems in the body, like the brain and nervous system, and can results in developmental & growth delays, hearing and speech problems, with potential for difficulty in learning and paying attention. At extreme exposure levels, it can lead to serious illness and sometime worse.
How do I know if I’m lead poisoned? The only way to see if you are poisoned is be a venous blood draw. Lead screening is done via a capillary finger blood draw. If this comes up elevated, it is encouraged to get a venous level done by a medical health professional.
What to do if you or your child tested positive for lead? As your local health department, we have staff trained and certified to inspect homes to see what potential lead hazards may be present. We would be able to come to the home, do a visual inspection, perform lead dust wipe sampling, and recommend things to do. In certain situations, our staff would be required to perform a more comprehensive inspection, which would include paint, soil, and water testing. If you need more information, please call the Environmental Health Department at 203-630-4226, and ask to speak to someone about lead.
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By meridenhealthtalkIn this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are kicking off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by talking about lead - what it is, its harmful effects, and what we do in local health if your child tests positive for lead.
What is lead? Lead is a metal found in the natural environment. Over time, it had been found to be useful in things like paint, gasoline, varnish, and car batteries. It increased the durability of paint, made the colors more vibrant, and increased the power generated in gasoline. It was a cheap additive that was introduced to many different things.
Lead poisoned? But I feel fine. The unfortunate thing about lead poisoning is that there are no early symptoms. There is no safe level of lead in any body, and it can be especially harmful for young children and pregnant women. It affects several systems in the body, like the brain and nervous system, and can results in developmental & growth delays, hearing and speech problems, with potential for difficulty in learning and paying attention. At extreme exposure levels, it can lead to serious illness and sometime worse.
How do I know if I’m lead poisoned? The only way to see if you are poisoned is be a venous blood draw. Lead screening is done via a capillary finger blood draw. If this comes up elevated, it is encouraged to get a venous level done by a medical health professional.
What to do if you or your child tested positive for lead? As your local health department, we have staff trained and certified to inspect homes to see what potential lead hazards may be present. We would be able to come to the home, do a visual inspection, perform lead dust wipe sampling, and recommend things to do. In certain situations, our staff would be required to perform a more comprehensive inspection, which would include paint, soil, and water testing. If you need more information, please call the Environmental Health Department at 203-630-4226, and ask to speak to someone about lead.