Protecting children from lead poisoning

Although many of us are unaware of it, lead is one of the major health hazards contaminating our environment and our bodies. We inhale it, we ingest it, we absorb it in our bloodstream, after which it is stored in our bones and teeth. The havoc that lead causes in our bodies is tremendous and long lasting, causing hypertension, kidney, liver, and brain damage. Children are the most vulnerable, particularly the unborn child, since their developing bodies can absorb up to 50 percent of the lead they are exposed to in-utero. Children with behavioral problems, retarded growth learning and attention disorders, as well as hearing loss have been documented to be attributable to lead poisoning. It is still quite underdiagnosed yet it is one of the most preventable pediatric environmental problems in the country.

Lead In The Air

Lead additives in petrol have been documented to constitute a public health menace since the mid-1920s. But despite evidence of the hazards to health that lead causes and despite the presence of safe alternatives in the form of unleaded fuels, business interests prevail and leaded petrol is still manufactured and sold. Figures from the World Wide Survey of Motor Gasoline Quality showed that the levels of lead added to petrol in third world countries were consistently twice as high as those added to the fuel in Western countries. West Germany has a limit of .15g/l lead in petrol since 1976. In 1981, lead levels in Britain were lowered to 0.4g/l. In the US, lead in gasoline was reduced to 0.45g/l for leaded fuel in 1975 and 0.13g/l in 1979.

Metro Manila has one of the highest levels of lead in the world, along with countries such as Mexico, Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, and Lagos from cars, motor bikes, buses, and trucks spewing out smoke. The US Environmental Protection Agency sets a maximum atmospheric lead level of 1.5ug/m3 while the European Economic Community sets the limit for lead in the air at 2ug/m3 (up to 8ug/m3 in heavy traffic). Our atmospheric lead levels are nearly three times those found in first world countries with street levels ranging from 6.16 to 22.48 ug/m3. Although the Philippine Clean Air Act was passed in 1999 banning the use of leaded gasoline by 2001, the legislation remains unenforced and the country still continues to sell lead gasoline nationwide. Aside from polluting the air, lead emissions from vehicles contaminate garden soil and the dust in roof cavities.

The Lead Group’s 1992 aims were to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Australia by the year 2002, and to protect the environment from lead. "Childhood lead poisoning" is defined here (as it is by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States), as a fetus, infant or child having a blood lead level above 10µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). This equates to 0.48µmol/L (micromoles per liter). In October 2002, we recognized our first aim was unachievable so we changed it to: Working to eliminate childhood and fetal lead poisoning by the year 2012 and to protect the environment from lead.

Lead In Your Walls

Up until the 1960s, paint used on houses could contain as much as a whopping 50 percent of lead. After the Lead Paint Act in the USA was passed in 1970, the lead content of paint was limited to 0.25 percent and is currently limited to 0.1 percent. We have no Lead Paint Act in our country so make sure to ask for lead-free paint if you are creating a nursery in preparation for the coming of your baby. When a mom is renovating, creating or decorating a room, it is one of the most common sources of exposure to lead. If your house was built before 1970 and the paint in the walls need to be stripped, make sure you and your children vacate the premises because the dust from chipping or stripped paint can be inhaled and the lead can go directly to the bloodstream. Leave it to the professionals to do it, especially if you are infanticipating. The amount of lead ingested that can poison your baby is just the size of a granule of sugar so never underestimate the paint dust you see lying around chipped from the ceiling or window sill. Your toddler can easily fall ill by merely regularly touching a window sill and then sucking his thumb.

Lead In Your Water

If your plumbing system dates back to the 1930s when lead pipes were the standard, your drinking water may be contaminated with lead. But the more prevalent sources seem to arise from the use of lead-based solder on brass fittings and bronze fittings and copper pipes up till 1989. Corrosion allows the lead to leach into the water after prolonged contact. If you collect water first thing in the morning for tea or coffee without allowing the water to run and flush the pipes, there may be lead contamination. Water from rainwater tanks can also present a lead poisoning hazard, resulting from lead painted on the inside of the tank, flashing on roofs, lead paint or soldering from the gutters, soft solder or lead fallout from air pollution.

In restaurants, when you ask for coffee, the waiters might as well ask, "Leaded or unleaded coffee, Ma’am?" In Perth, Australia, a study conducted in restaurants, offices, workplaces, and schools found that 67 percent of the samples of water collected from water boilers, urns, coffee and cappuccino machines were excessively contaminated with lead, most probably because of the brass components in contact with the hot water.

Federal standards limit the amount of lead in water to 50 parts per billion (ppb). In light of new health and exposure data, EPA has proposed tightening this standard to 20 ppb. If tests show that the level of lead in your household water is in the area of 20 ppb or higher, it is advisable, especially if there are young children in the home, to reduce the lead level in your tap water as much as possible. EPA estimates that more than 40 million US residents use water that can contain lead in excess of 20 ppb. One ppb is equal to 1.0 micrograms per liter (ug/1 or 0.001 milligram per liter (mg/1).

You can easily avoid any lead which is in your drinking water by never using the hot water tap to make food, instant coffee, instant soup, cocoa or any other beverage. Never use water from the hot water tap to make formula, cereal or any beverage or food for an infant or child. Always use the cold water tap for drinking and cooking because hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. Anytime you haven’t used a faucet for six or more hours, flush the old water out of your plumbing by running the water for three to five minutes or until it is as cold as it will get.

Lead Poisoning In Consumer Products

The following consumer products were found to have unacceptable levels of lead:

• Calcium supplements – The Natural Resources Defense Council, in a press release, stated that some dietary calcium supplements contain unacceptable levels of lead.

• Hair dye – The US Food and Drug Administration found lead in certain hair dyes.

• Lead in candy – The Orange County Register created a database of candies which the California Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch found to contain lead.

• Miniblinds – The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that lead was being used to stabilize the plastic in imported vinyl miniblinds. With time, due to prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat, deterioration causes lead dust to accumulate on the surface of the blinds which can be a lead-poisoning hazard for young children who touch it and put their hands in their mouths.

• Children’s necklaces – CPSC recalled 5,000 metallic heart-shaped medallion necklaces that contained high levels of lead.

• Playground equipment – Beware of public playground equipment with chipping or peeling lead paint particularly for children below six years old.

• Children’s toys – Many vinyl items and children’s toys contain lead since lead is used to stabilize the plastic. Items such as imported crayons, children’s jewelry, and activity toys to increase the IQ paradoxically contain high levels of lead.

• Lead dishes and crystal – Certain leaded crystal glasses, bowls, and china contain unacceptable levels of lead. Be sure to get a brand that certifies the product to be lead-free. (To be continued)

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Dr. Rebecca B. Singson is a fellow of both the Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society and Philippine Society of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy. She is holding clinics at Rm. 381, Makati Medical Center, 892-7879; and Rms. 202-203, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, 771-9204 and 771-9206 or e-mail obmd@surfshop.net.ph.