Lead poisoning can affect young children’s intelligence, behavior and development.

About 2 percent of U.S. children under age 6 have blood-lead levels the federal government considers elevated. But there is no safe level of lead in the blood, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and health problems can occur even at low levels.

“Lead poisoning is a preventable disease,” says Erica Liebelt, M.D., a toxicologist at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. “Many children are asymptomatic even with very high levels in their body. Thus it is important to screen your child for lead with a simple blood test if you live in a house built before 1978 or if there are recent or ongoing renovations in the house.”

About 40 percent of U.S. homes contain lead-based paint (used before 1978), 16 percent have lead dust hazards and 7 percent have lead soil hazards. The EPA says lead also has turned up in deteriorating plumbing, unglazed pottery and plastic miniblinds.

The younger the child, the greater the risk — developing nervous systems are especially vulnerable. Young children also are more likely to play in contaminated soil or put their hands and other dust-covered objects in their mouths. What’s more, lead paint chips taste sweet, and little kids may eat them.

To avoid problems:

• Ask your doctor about testing your child for lead at ages 1 and 2, or at any age if you suspect lead poisoning.
• If you rent, tell your landlord about peeling or chipping paint. Clean up paint chips at once using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (you can rent these).
• Clean floors, window frames, sills and other surfaces weekly.
• Rinse sponges and mops after cleaning up dirt or dust.
• Wash kids’ hands often, especially before they eat or sleep.
• Keep play areas clean.
• Keep kids from chewing windowsills or other painted surfaces.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
• Contact a professional if you must remove lead paint from your home.
• Ask your health department or water supplier about testing your water.
• Serve children foods rich in iron and calcium (so that they absorb less lead), including eggs, lean red meat, beans and dairy products.
• If you have a home built before 1978, repaint it.
• Close off rooms being remodeled.
• Don’t store food or drink in pottery that may not have been fired correctly.

Possible Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

• Poor appetite
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Crankiness
• Loss of energy
• Sleeping problems
• Behavioral problems
• Learning problems
• Hearing problems
• Unexplained anemia
• Unexplained developmental delay

Poison Control Center
Thousands of children are accidentally poisoned each year from swallowing medicines, polishes, insecticides, and other household and garage products. When a child swallows one of these products, his or her parents should call a poison control center.

Children’s Hospital is home to one of just 50 poison control centers in the United States. The Regional Poison Control Center, a part of the Southeast Child Safety Institute, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is available for people of all ages.