Your Child & Lead: What to Know

LEAD IS STILL AN ISSUE...

Don’t dismiss the risk of lead poisoning •

• If lead gets into the body, it can cause health and learning problems that can’t be reversed.

Most children with lead poisoning don’t seem sick. Children can be exposed to lead in multiple ways.

Children under 6 years old are vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more easily.

A blood test is the only way to know if your child was exposed.

Talk to your child’s doctor about getting a lead test. The cost is covered by Apple Health/Medicaid and most private insurances.

For more information about lead poisoning prevention, visit www.snohd.org/lead.

Your Child & Lead:

WHAT TO KNOW

...BUT LEAD POISONING IS PREVENTABLE

05-2023 SAC

There is no safe level of lead.

LEAD IS STILL AN ISSUE...

Don’t dismiss the risk of lead poisoning •

• If lead gets into the body, it can cause health and learning problems that can’t be reversed.

Most children with lead poisoning don’t seem sick. Children can be exposed to lead in multiple ways.

Children under 6 years old are vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more easily.

A blood test is the only way to know if your child was exposed.

Talk to your child’s doctor about getting a lead test. The cost is covered by Apple Health/Medicaid and most private insurances.

For more information about lead poisoning prevention, visit www.snohd.org/lead.

Your Child & Lead:

WHAT TO KNOW

...BUT LEAD POISONING IS PREVENTABLE

05-2023 SAC

There is no safe level of lead.

COMMON SOURCES OF LEAD PAINT CHIPS / DUST homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint OTHER SOURCES like certain spices, cosmetics, and traditional home remedies CONTAMINATED SOIL from paint, smelter projects, leaded gasoline, or pesticide use DRINKING WATER from lead pipes, fixtures, or solder JOBS OR HOBBIES such as fishing, shooting, mechanics, and manufacturing

EASY LEAD PREVENTION TIPS In general: • Wash children’s hands before eating and after playing outside • Remodel safely. Use lead-certified contractors • Make sure paint isn’t chipping. Check walls, windowsills, toys, furniture, fences, and other painted items • Avoid antiques, costume jewelry, older painted toys, or vintage cookware • Watch for toy or product recalls • Flush water tap until it runs cold • Use cold water for making baby formula, cooking, and drinking • Use water filters and clean faucet parts

If you live or work where there’s lead: • Use a HEPA filter vacuum • Dust with a damp paper towel • Cover bare soil, and don’t let kids play in bare soil around older homes/buildings • Garden in raised beds with new or organic soil • Remove shoes and work gear outside of living spaces • Keep hobbies or activities that involve lead out of living and play areas • Wash hands and bathe/shower when finished with activities involving possible exposure

CHILDREN SHOULD BE TESTED at 12 and 24 months of age. Ask your child’s doctor for a lead test if your child is under 6 years old and has not had one.

Some additional risk factors: q Lives in or often visits a home built before 1978; often spends time near a former smelter site or an airport q Has a caregiver who works with lead (home remodeling, car batteries, shooting, fishing weights, etc) q Has a friend or sibling with lead poisoning

COMMON SOURCES OF LEAD PAINT CHIPS / DUST homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint OTHER SOURCES like certain spices, cosmetics, and traditional home remedies CONTAMINATED SOIL from paint, smelter projects, leaded gasoline, or pesticide use DRINKING WATER from lead pipes, fixtures, or solder JOBS OR HOBBIES such as fishing, shooting, mechanics, and manufacturing

EASY LEAD PREVENTION TIPS In general: • Wash children’s hands before eating and after playing outside • Remodel safely. Use lead-certified contractors • Make sure paint isn’t chipping. Check walls, windowsills, toys, furniture, fences, and other painted items • Avoid antiques, costume jewelry, older painted toys, or vintage cookware • Watch for toy or product recalls • Flush water tap until it runs cold • Use cold water for making baby formula, cooking, and drinking • Use water filters and clean faucet parts

If you live or work where there’s lead: • Use a HEPA filter vacuum • Dust with a damp paper towel • Cover bare soil, and don’t let kids play in bare soil around older homes/buildings • Garden in raised beds with new or organic soil • Remove shoes and work gear outside of living spaces • Keep hobbies or activities that involve lead out of living and play areas • Wash hands and bathe/shower when finished with activities involving possible exposure

CHILDREN SHOULD BE TESTED at 12 and 24 months of age. Ask your child’s doctor for a lead test if your child is under 6 years old and has not had one.

Some additional risk factors: q Lives in or often visits a home built before 1978; often spends time near a former smelter site or an airport q Has a caregiver who works with lead (home remodeling, car batteries, shooting, fishing weights, etc) q Has a friend or sibling with lead poisoning

COMMON SOURCES OF LEAD PAINT CHIPS / DUST homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint OTHER SOURCES like certain spices, cosmetics, and traditional home remedies CONTAMINATED SOIL from paint, smelter projects, leaded gasoline, or pesticide use DRINKING WATER from lead pipes, fixtures, or solder JOBS OR HOBBIES such as fishing, shooting, mechanics, and manufacturing

EASY LEAD PREVENTION TIPS In general: • Wash children’s hands before eating and after playing outside • Remodel safely. Use lead-certified contractors • Make sure paint isn’t chipping. Check walls, windowsills, toys, furniture, fences, and other painted items • Avoid antiques, costume jewelry, older painted toys, or vintage cookware • Watch for toy or product recalls • Flush water tap until it runs cold • Use cold water for making baby formula, cooking, and drinking • Use water filters and clean faucet parts

If you live or work where there’s lead: • Use a HEPA filter vacuum • Dust with a damp paper towel • Cover bare soil, and don’t let kids play in bare soil around older homes/buildings • Garden in raised beds with new or organic soil • Remove shoes and work gear outside of living spaces • Keep hobbies or activities that involve lead out of living and play areas • Wash hands and bathe/shower when finished with activities involving possible exposure

CHILDREN SHOULD BE TESTED at 12 and 24 months of age. Ask your child’s doctor for a lead test if your child is under 6 years old and has not had one.

Some additional risk factors: q Lives in or often visits a home built before 1978; often spends time near a former smelter site or an airport q Has a caregiver who works with lead (home remodeling, car batteries, shooting, fishing weights, etc) q Has a friend or sibling with lead poisoning

LEAD IS STILL AN ISSUE...

Don’t dismiss the risk of lead poisoning •

• If lead gets into the body, it can cause health and learning problems that can’t be reversed.

Most children with lead poisoning don’t seem sick. Children can be exposed to lead in multiple ways.

Children under 6 years old are vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more easily.

A blood test is the only way to know if your child was exposed.

Talk to your child’s doctor about getting a lead test. The cost is covered by Apple Health/Medicaid and most private insurances.

For more information about lead poisoning prevention, visit www.snohd.org/lead.

Your Child & Lead:

WHAT TO KNOW

...BUT LEAD POISONING IS PREVENTABLE

05-2023 SAC

There is no safe level of lead.