Chapter 1 � Childhood Lead Poisoning 1Childhood Lead Poisoning in the United States

The problem of childhood lead poisoning. Child-hood lead poisoning is a major, preventable environmental health problem in the United States. Blood lead levels (BLLs) as low as 10,g/dL are associated with harmful effects on children's ability to learn. Very high BLLs (≥70,g/dL) can cause devastating health consequences, including seizures, coma, and death. It is currently estimated that some 890,000 U.S. children have BLLs ≥10,g/dL (CDC, 1997). Lead exposure. Children can be exposed to lead in many ways. Sources of exposure include lead-based paint and industrial sites and smelters that use or produce lead-contain-ing materials. Lead-contaminated dust, soil, and water; lead-containing materials used in parental occupations or hobbies; and lead-containing ceramicware and traditional remedies all contribute to childhood lead exposure. Lead-contaminated house dust, ingested in the course of normal hand-to-mouth activity, is of major significance. House dust is most often contaminated by lead-based paint in the home, when such paint is peeling, deteriorating, or scattered about during home renovation or preparation of painted surfaces for repainting. Housing with lead-based paint. Lead-based paint in homes is the most important remaining source of lead expo-sure for U.S. children. Substantial progress has been made in reducing other environmental sources of lead exposure, especially from gasoline and food. But 83 % of all homes built in the United States before 1978 still contain some lead