Lead and children

Lead is found in many products and places and can affect the health of children and pregnant women.

Up until 1950, house paint contained 50% lead. Some 1.3 million houses were built before 1950, with another 1.7 million built before lead was phased out of paint in 1970. That means up to half a million pre-school children live in potentially lead-contaminated houses. The risk occurs because lead builds up in the dust in the roof space, from peeling paint flakes and in the soil surrounding the house.

A Port Pirie study conducted by Dr Peter Baghurst of the Adelaide Women and Children’s Hospital discovered that even low levels of lead can cause mental health problems – lower IQs, reduced learning abilities and behavioural problems.

Lead if breathed or eaten finds its way into the bloodstream and from there to the brain, kidneys and any tissue with calcium such as the teeth or bones. Babies and young children are most at risk because they absorb up to 50% of any exposure to lead.

In nearly all admissions of children to hospital in Australia for treatment of lead poisoning the lead came from dust or paint flakes made during home renovations.

If your home was built prior to 1970, it is likely to have dust build-up and lead paint, and you are considering renovations, then the family should move out, particularly those with children under 5 and /or pregnant.

More information: Child and Youth Health website.

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Always consult your doctor if you or your child is suffering any medical complaint. Any websites referred to by Australian Family contain information moderated by government and medical institutions or organisations.

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine. Updated July 2009.