"Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. The most recent data indicates that approximately 310,000 children children living in the United States have lead levels in their blood that are high enough to cause irreversible damage to their health." (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Few children become lead poisoned by eating paint chips or chewing on painted surfaces. Typically, children are poisoned by exposure to lead-contaminated household dust. They become poisoned by doing what children normally do, putting their hands and toys in their mouths, and eating lead-contaminated dust in the process. Lead contamination in the home comes primarily from old lead-based paint that is deteriorating, or rubbed off friction surfaces such as windows and doors. Children also face lead exposure from exterior lead-based paint as it breaks down and contaminates dust and soil as well as from lead residue from industrial sources and leaded gasoline. Contaminated soil can be blown in or tracked in from outside the home.

Children in older urban neighborhoods are at greatest risk

Lead poisoning occurs most often in children living in pre-1950 housing with deferred maintenance and where lead-based paint has been allowed to deteriorate. Minority children living in poor, older, urban neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by lead poisoning

Lead poisoning has serious consequences and costs

Lead is especially toxic for children under six years old, who can suffer permanent damage as a result of exposure. Elevated blood lead levels can harm a child's brain and cause learning and behavior problems. The social costs of lead poisoning are enormous. Lead poisoning results in increased medical costs, increased special education costs, a reduction in future productivity and earnings, and has been linked to juvenile delinquency.

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