Oct. 20-26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Utah children and pregnant women are at risk as evidenced by our most recent state data showing that around 2% of children 5 years and younger have elevated lead levels.
If Utah children were not at risk, the Salt Lake County Lead Safe Housing Program would not have received the recent $5.1 million HUD grant to help qualifying families mitigate lead hazards in their homes free of charge. Children can inhale or ingest lead from contaminated paint dust or chips from homes built before 1978. Other common sources include drinking water that goes through pipes or fixtures that contain lead, playing in lead-contaminated soil, eating lead contaminated spices and candies or exposure through a parent’s work or hobby. Lead causes damage to the brain and nervous system of children before and after they are born.
The good news is lead poisoning is preventable. Because a child is unlikely to have symptoms except at high levels, a simple blood test done in your health care provider’s office at 12 and 24 months can detect lead exposure. If it shows elevated levels, the source of lead can be removed to prevent further exposure and damage. Act early to get your child tested. Their future depends on it.
Claudia Fruin
Salt Lake City