Every year about 300 kids in Maine are poisoned by lead.
Most of these lead poisonings are caused by exposure to dust from old lead paint.
Children under six years of age are most at risk of lead poisoning and most are poisoned by lead hazards in their homes.
Toddlers age 1 and 2 are more likely to be exposed to lead. They can get lead dust or chips into their bodies because they often put their hands, toys, or other things in their mouths. They also play where lead dust may be — like floors and near windowsills.
More than 60% of the housing in Maine may have lead paint in it. Exposure to lead is most common in buildings built before 1950 (when paint contained up to 50% lead), and in buildings built before 1978 when repainting or remodeling is done.
Lead can cause learning delays, behavioral problems, speech and language delays, hearing damage, or lower intelligence.
Children are exposed to lead by:
· Old peeling or chipping paint
· Worn painted stairs or floors
· Repair projects that disturb old paint
· Soil, especially around old buildings
· On clothes or in the cars of family members who work with lead
If you think your child has been exposed to lead you should talk to your doctor about having your child tested.