Community Planning and Development Department Environmental Health Unit Housing Authority
Dear Parents,
It is very important to bring awareness of the dangers of lead in our environment. The Seneca Nation was one of thirteen awardees to receive the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Tribal Healthy Homes Grant. HUD is recognizing that health disparities correlate to home environments. If your child has not received their annual lead screening, please visit your provider and have your child’s blood lead level tested.
Prior to 1978, lead based paint covered many surfaces throughout the home; doors, doorframes, windowsills, and porches are the most popular places to find lead. These areas pose the greatest risk because they are high friction areas. Paint that has started chipping, peeling, cracking, or has been damaged or damp can be dangerous. The deterioration of lead paint leads to ingestion and inhalation risks. When doing home repairs or renovations, scraping or sanding the paint sends lead particles into the air, creating a dust that can settle on the ground or on other items near the area. Once it has settled it can re-enter the air when you vacuum, sweep, or walk through it. Lead-safe guidelines are important and workers must abide by these rules before, during and after construction.
Primary Sources of Lead Exposure:
- Prenatal exposure: Lead can cross the placenta and the newborn will have a blood-lead level similar to their mothers. This can damage a baby’s nervous system and could cause miscarriage, stillbirths, and infertility (in both men and women).
- Adults: workers in lead smelters, welders, recycled batteries, auto repair, construction & industrial work.
- Lead paint: Found in homes built before 1978, glazes on ceramics and children’s toys.
- Soil and water: Lead particles from paint and gasoline can settle on soil and last for years. Lead can leach into tap water by corroding service lines containing lead or lead pipe solder.
- Food: Can be contaminated during production (growing in soil with lead), processing, packaging (tins manufactured with lead solder can leak into food), preparation or storage (some food containers and pots have lead like glazed pottery or leaded crystal glassware).
- Artificial athletic fields: Nylon or a nylon and polyethylene mix may have lead dust that allow inhalation or ingestion of lead.
- Vending machine toys, jewelry, and dollar store toys have no regulations by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, so be mindful when purchasing toys from these places!
When a child reaches the age of one, your doctor completes a simple blood test to determine their blood lead levels. Recently, a limit of 5 µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) has become the cut-off point and more parents are being notified of their children’s exposure to lead. This allows the opportunity for both, parents and doctors to take action. The average level for children is about 2 µg/dL. If your child has elevated blood lead levels greater than 5 µg/dL, you can work with the Seneca Nation Health System’s Environmental Health office to help identify lead sources in your child’s environment and reduce your child’s exposure.
Although lead poisoning has no obvious, immediate symptoms, it could affect:
- A child’s brain development, ability to learn, and lower IQ.
- A child’s neurobehavioral development, cause ADHD and hearing loss.
- A child’s central nervous system, heart, and red blood cells creating long-term health problems such as kidney disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
- In extreme cases, it can cause seizures, comas, and even death.
Lead poisoning is preventable! Reducing your child’s exposure to lead is key. Here are a few ways to accomplish that:
- Get your home tested for lead, especially if it is dated before 1978.
- Keep your children away from old windows, old porches, and areas with chipping or peeling paint. If you rent your home, let your landlord know about any peeling or chipping paint.
- Cleaning your home regularly and taking shoes off at the door can help reduce tracking in dirt and dust that can contain lead.
- Run your tap for 30-60 seconds with cold water, especially when making formula or drinks. Hot water allows lead and other metals to leach.
- Teach your children to wash their hands, especially before eating.
- Give your child a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods that are high in vitamin C, calcium and iron. This helps stop the absorption of lead in their bodies.
- Discard brightly painted toys, including ones where the paint is coming off. Do not buy toys made outside the U.S.A. or Europe. Places like China, India, and Mexico have relaxed lead regulations.
Being aware of lead and its dangers will help you and your family stay safe. If you have any questions, call your health care provider and schedule an exam if necessary. If your child has elevated blood levels, please call the Environmental Health Unit for help identifying the cause.
Sincerely,
Seneca Nation Healthy Homes Program
