Lead Poisoning : The Risks

Childhood lead poisoning is by far the most avoidable environmental ailment in youngsters, but somewhere around One million young children continue to have raised bloodstream lead amounts. Lead poisoning can result in learning disabilities, behavior issues, convulsions and loss of life, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. It is particularly detrimental to fetuses and small children.

Most youngsters are in contact with hazardous amounts of lead if they are living in properties constructed prior to 1978 - the year during which lead based paints were banned as a result of medical problems. Federal and state governing bodies are supporting programs to scale back and eliminate the issue. To give an example, a recent $2.9 million federal government grant will soon allow the city of Indianapolis to maintain lead assessments for the local children, provide lead dust sets for many households and assist development of about 400 lead free real estate units as part of a Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration program.

The program's goal is to eliminate lead in 389 area homes, 115 of which must be rental properties. Households will be selected based on income level, risk of contamination and whether small kids or expectant mothers are on the property.

Even if your area is not currently in receipt of such grants, if you are concerned about the possibility of lead paint in your property, then you will be able to call in professional lead paint removal experts to evaluate, and if required remove lead paint from, your property.