Yatauro Reminds Residents of Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips

Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), in recognition of the 9th Annual National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 21 - 27), is joining the Nassau County Department of Health in reminding residents that lead poisoning is one of the most preventable childhood health problems in New York State. Recently, more than 9 million children's toys have been recalled because of lead contamination. 

Nassau County Department of Health staff called or visited over 160 stores that have toys for sale. Of those, only three stores had recalled items still for sale; each removed the toys immediately. Recall notices are available from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s site: http://www.cpsc.gov or by calling the New York State Consumer Protection Board at 1-800-697-1220.

The Department of Health recommends that parents carefully review all the toys in their home for lead hazards. Parents should discuss the need for a blood lead test with their children’s health care provider. A blood test should be done for all children less than age 6 years old who have played with one of these toys, especially if the child frequently chews on toys or puts toys in his or her mouth, or has frequent hand-to-mouth activity typical of young children. If parents find any of the recalled toys, they should put the toys in a place where children cannot find them, until the toys can be returned or destroyed as directed. 

In addition to toys, children may be poisoned by objects from other countries that contain lead including furniture, cosmetics, medicines, foods, spices, herbal remedies, clay pots and dishes. By law, children must be tested for lead exposure at ages one and two and assessed annually until age six by their health care providers. Additionally, children entering day care or nursery school must show proof of having had a blood lead test.

Lead paint is also found in homes built before 1978. Even if your home has been repainted, repeated rubbing of one painted surface against another (such as opening and closing windows) could expose old, lead-based paint in your home.  Worn, cracked or peeling lead-based paint may cause lead poisoning, especially in children.

Even small amounts of lead can harm a child's developing nervous system and may result in behavior problems, learning disorders, poor school performance, lower I.Q., hearing loss, anemia, kidney damage or growth retardation.

In 2006, 32,576 lead tests were obtained from Nassau County children, and 0.9% of these were elevated. One child had very severe lead poisoning and needed to be hospitalized for special treatment.

The Department of Health provides case management services to parents of all children with elevated blood lead levels and inspects their homes to identify the cause of the lead poisoning. The department also provides educational, preventive and nutritional counseling about childhood lead poisoning.  The department also supervises safe removal and abatement of lead hazards and takes enforcement action, when necessary, to ensure hazards are abated.

For information and literature on lead testing and on reducing lead hazards from soil, dust, water, food and other sources, telephone the Nassau County Department of Health at 571-2310.