Lead Poisoning Prevention
Lead poisoning is one of the most preventable environmental health problems in young children. High levels of lead can harm the brain, interfere with growth, cause learning difficulties, and may cause death.
Children can be exposed to lead from any of the sources below. Children are at higher risk of lead exposure if they frequent older homes that contain lead in pipes, mini-blinds, or that have chipping and peeling paint.
Possible sources of lead are:
Lead poisoning may occur without any signs or symptoms.
It can take a long time for symptoms of lead poisoning to appear. Your child may be at risk long before you see any effects. Some signs to look for are:
How a family in Ohio was affected by lead after renovations in their house.
Avoiding Take-Home Lead
Keeping Your Home Lead-Free
Common Sources of Lead
How Lead Affects Children, and How to Be Tested
Ways to Reduce Lead Poisoning in Children
Families and Lead Exposure
To learn more about the risks of lead or to arrange a lead screening, contact your primary care provider or call the Mississippi Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program at (601) 576-7447.
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Links referenced |
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One family's experience with lead | https://nchh.org/resource-library/Testimonial_Cantley.pdf | |
Pregnant? Lead Poisoning Prevention Starts Now (CDC) | https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/docs/are-you-pregnant.html | |
Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home | https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-06/documents/pyf_color_landscape_format_2017_508.pdf | |
Questions and Answers About Lead in the Home | http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,11602,176,html | |
Combata el Envenenamiento con Plomo con una Dieta Saludable | https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/nutritionsp.pdf | |
Avoiding Take-Home Lead Exposure | http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/11589.pdf | |
Quick Guide for Lead Poisoning Prevention, Clinical Evaluation, and Management | http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/8119.pdf | |
Lead-Free Mississippi: Resources and information for Mississippians | https://www.leadfreems.org/ | |
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Lead Poisoning Information | http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ | |
Lead Poisoning Prevention from the EPA | http://www.epa.gov/lead | |
Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessment Training (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) | http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/visualassessment/h00101.htm | |
Video: How to test children for lead with maximum accuracy (CDC) | https://youtu.be/g2p2qREch9g | |
National Center for Healthy Housing | http://nchh.org/ | |
Healthy Homes (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) | https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes |
Find this page at http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/index.cfm