Millions of toys have been recalled recently due to lead contamination, but lead poisoning is preventable and with a few simple steps you can help protect your child.
Toys and lead
The best way to protect your child from lead-contaminated toys is to remove them from your home.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues recalls of toys that are unsafe for many reasons, including lead contamination. You can get the reports three ways:
- See the Consumer Product Safety Commission web page,
- Sign up for email alerts, or
- Call 1-800-638-2772.
If you find a toy that's been recalled or if you think your child has been exposed to lead any other way, your pediatrician can evaluate your child and help you decide if treatment is needed.
Do-it-yourself lead test kits are not reliable--the best way to protect your child is to review the list of recalled toys and get those toys out of your home.
Other significant sources of lead poisoning
Most lead poisoning is caused by lead dust from paint in homes or apartments built before 1978, when lead paint was banned in the U.S.
If you think you have lead paint in your home, please see the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
If you rent a home where there is lead paint and have a child under six, Massachusetts law requires the owner to fix it. Do not try to remove lead paint yourself--lead paint removal is dangerous and should be done by people who are trained to do it safely.
What are the dangers?
There is no “safe” level of lead in the human body and even children who seem healthy can have lead poisoning. Effects are most harmful to children under the age of six because lead can interfere with the development of the brain and other organs.
Symptoms can include reading and learning disabilities, behavior problems, slower growth and development, and hearing and speech problems.
The importance of healthy food
Feeding your child healthy foods can help lower the risk of lead poisoning. Make sure your child has plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese and milk, and whole grains. Foods high in calcium, iron, and vitamin c can help keep lead out of the body. Children absorb less lead on a full stomach, so serving four to six small meals a day can help, too. Be sure children wash hands before meals--lead can be transferred from the hands to the mouth.
