This NebGuide discusses why young children in Nebraska should be tested for lead poisoning. It explains sources of lead and ways parents can reduce children\u27s exposure to lead. Introduction Lead, a poison that affects virtually every system in the body, is a health issue for parents and caretakers of Nebraska children 6 years old and younger. Small amounts of lead in the body can do serious harm to the developing brain and nervous system of a young child. The risks associated with lead exposure are not assumed or based on laboratory animals, but documented from the studies of children themselves. More children in Nebraska could be affected by lead poisoning than people realize. Before lead-based paint for household use was banned by the ...