How To Prevent Lead Poisoning
Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in various construction materials, batteries and many other electrical components that can cause serious health problems. Lead is toxic to every one but children, unborn babies and pregnant ladies are at greater risk to lead exposure. Our body gets exposed to lead through inhaling, swallowing or absorbing through skin and act as poison. Once lead lands into the body, it can damage the red blood cells and they can not carry oxygen to different organs and tissues and as a result causes anemia. Other major effects of lead poisoning are learning disabilities, muscle growth problem, damage of kidney, hearing disability, speech problem etc.
Children are exposed to lead mainly due to ingestion of paint chips or dirt contaminated with lead. So to prevent lead poisoning children must be brought up in a safe environment.
Prevention
• Take care that your kids don’t chew or eat any non food item that may contain lead, like paint chips or dirt, curtain weights, keys, lead sinkers used for fishing etc.
• Ask your children to wash their hands before eating anything after playing.
• Keep their toys dirt free by washing them frequently.
• Give them a well balanced diet, rich in iron and calcium. Undernourished children are more prone to lead exposure.
• Clean up dust paint, and dirty surface with wet clothes.
• If you have plumbing with copper pipes and lead solder, get your water tested from local health department.
• Move your children away from home until renovation or repair is going on.
• Food can get contaminated with lead. So wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating because they can have lead if they are grown in lead contaminated soil.
• Do not store or serve food in imported or glazed pottery which may contain lead.
• If any person’s job in the family involves connection to lead like radiator repair, welding, lead industry, house construction, battery manufacturing, chemical preparation and pottery making, he should change his shoes and clothes before entering home and take a bath before coming in contact with kids.
• If there are any lead based products in your home, keep them out of the reach of children.
