October 10, 2024

Protecting Your Child from Lead: Why Testing Matters

Although lead levels in children today are significantly lower than in the past due to more regulations, health professionals still highly recommend getting your child tested for lead as early as possible. Many kids with lead in their blood don’t show signs right away, which is why getting tested is so important, especially if your child has been around lead.

While rules have been placed to lower exposure to lead, a recent study conducted in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) determined elevated lead levels in its water fixtures at several OUSD schools. Read more about the data in this article.

Why Should Your Child Be Screened?

Lead exposure can cause serious, long-lasting health problems for children, including:

• Brain and nervous system damage: Lead can permanently harm the brain and nervous system, even in small amounts. This can cause seizures, loss of muscle control, and even coma.
• Developmental and growth delays: Lead can slow down a child’s growth and development.
• Learning and behavior problems: Lead can cause learning difficulties, trouble paying attention, and more antisocial behavior.
• Hearing and speech problems: Lead can affect a child’s hearing and ability to speak.
• Other health problems: Lead can also cause anemia, high blood pressure, kidney damage, and problems with the immune system.
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Pregnant women should stay away from lead because even small amounts can slow down a baby’s growth before birth.

Who Should Be Screened?

The Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a risk screening at the following well-child visits: 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years of age. If the risk screening at your primary care doctor’s office comes back positive, then a definitive blood lead level test can be done at the lab.

Children who are at risk of lead exposure should be tested for lead poisoning. Some groups of kids are more likely to be exposed to lead, so if your child fits one of these groups, it’s important to get them tested:

• Live or spend time in a house or building built before 1978 
• Attend one of the affected OUSD schools.
• Are from low-income families.
• Are immigrants, refugees, or were recently adopted from less developed countries.
• Live or spend time with someone who works with lead.
• Live or spend time with someone who has hobbies that involve lead.

What Does The Test Look Like?

There are two types of blood tests to check for lead levels:

• A finger-prick (capillary) test is often the first step. A small amount of blood is taken from the child’s finger, and this test gives quick results. If the screening capillary blood lead level is high, a second venous blood level test should be done to confirm the results.
• A venous blood test takes blood from a child’s vein and gives more accurate results. It may take a few days to get the results and is usually done to confirm high lead levels from the first test.

Luckily, access to lead screening and testing is easy.  If your family is enrolled in a Medi-Cal program, testing for lead in the blood is covered. Many private insurance policies cover the cost of testing for lead in the blood. Be sure to test and screen your kids for lead!