Lead is a poisonous heavy metal that our bodies cannot use. Lead poisoning can cause learning, hearing, and behavioral problems, and can harm your child's brain, kidneys, and other organs. Lead in the body stops good vitamins such as iron and calcium from working right. Some of these effects may be permanent.
Lead Awareness and Your Child
Children with lead poisoning usually do not look or act sick. The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is by getting a blood test. Contact your physician or health care providor today and request a Blood Lead Level (BLL) test for your child today. All children under the age of six (6) should be tested once a year.
Lead poisoning occurs without any obvious symptoms and harms your child's body!
LEAD HAZARDS Where is lead Found?
Main sources of Lead
Lead-based paint is a hazard if it is peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking. Paint used in homes prior to 1980 is very likely to contain lead.
Contaminated dust forms when lead paint is dry-scraped or sanded. Dust can also become contaminated when painted surfaces bump or rub together, such as paint on windows.
Contaminated soil occurs when exterior lead-based paint from houses, buildings or other structures flakes or peels and gets into soil. Soil near roadways may be contaminated from the past use of leaded gasoline in cars.
Other Sources of Lead
Contaminated drinking water from old lead pipes Lead-based painted toys and household furniture Imported lead-glazed pottery and leaded crystal Imported candy Lead smelters Hobbies Folk remedies like azarcon and pay-loo-ah Cosmetics
A healthy diet can help PROTECT your CHILD from the HARMFUL effects of lead!
Regulary Eat Healthy Foods
Children with empty stomachs absorb more lead than children with full stomachs. Provide your child with 4-6 small meals per day. Eat more of the following nutrients:
Iron-Rich Foods
Lean red meats Liver Fish, oysters, clams, scallops Chicken or turkey giblets Iron-fortified cereals and grains Beans, lentils, chickpeas and soybeans Dried fruits (raisins, prunes) Egg Yolks Dark leafy greens (spinach, collard greens) Artichokes
Oranges, orange juice Grapefruits, grapefruit juice Tomatoes, tomato juice Green peppers Papaya Strawberries Peaches Potatoes Kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli Rose Hip extracts
MEAL AND SNACK IDEAS
BREAKFAST
Oatmeal Sliced banana Orange juice
or
Cheese omelet Applesauce Low-fat milk
or
French toast Orange sections Low-fat milk
LUNCH
Grilled cheese and tomato Coleslaw Low-fat milk
or
Tuna salad sandwich Cranberry juice Pear slices
or
Pizza bagel 100% fruit juice Fresh or canned peaches Low-fat milk
DINNER
Sloppy joes Watermelon Low-fat milk
or
Macaroni and cheese Stewed tomatoes Melon slice
or
Chicken stew Brown Rice Straberries
Give children under age 2 breast milk or iron-fortified formula!
Between meals offer small snack such as:
Cereal with low-fat milk, whole wheat crackers with cheese, apple or pear slices, oranges or bananas, raisins, yogurt, frozen fruit juice pops, fruit smoothies or cut up vegetables (carrots, broccoli, celery,tomatoes, cucumbers).
