Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

1. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Jeff Wenzel

2. Lead Poisoning • Lead poisoning is a preventable health problem. • Various sources: • Paint, toys, jewelry, food, candies, water pipes, lead sinkers, bullets, batteries, food, ceramics, stained glass, ect. • Consumer product recalls can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/allhazards.htm

3. Lead Poisoning • Several areas in Missouri south of the Missouri River have been found to have lead contamination in the environment. • Mine waste can contaminate: • Soil and sediment, • surface water and groundwater, • Plants and fish

4. Lead Exposure • Must be exposed to the lead for it to pose a health risk • Inhalation (breathing) • Ingestion (swallowing) • Lead has no known use in the human body and can cause harmful health effects, especially in children less than 6 years old.

5. Health Effects • Affects the central nervous system • Adults • Difficulties during pregnancy • Fertility problems • Increased blood pressure • Hearing loss • Nerve-muscle problems • Young children • Learning and behavioral problems • Short attention span • Hyperactivity • Lower IQ • Nerve-muscle problems • However, often lead poisoning has no symptoms

6. Lead Exposure • Why children less than 6 years old? • Children tend to have frequent hand-to-mouth contact and put non-food items into their mouths. • For their body size, children breath in more air and drink more water than adults. • Also, compared to adults, a larger portion of the lead taken into the body will be absorbed in children. • About 99% of the amount of lead taken into the body of an adult will leave as waste within a few weeks, only about 32% of lead taken into the body of a child will leave as waste.

7. Testing • Often no outward signs or symptoms • The only way to know if you or your children are exposed is to be tested • Annual blood lead testing recommended until the age of 6. • Testing of pregnant and lactating women.

8. Prevention • Tips to reduce your family’s exposure to lead • Soil • Dust • Nutrition • Fishing

9. Prevention • Soil • Have your soil tested • Stay away from areas that have high lead concentrations • Wash hands frequently, especially before putting hands near your face (eating, drinking, smoking, etc.)

10. Prevention • Dust • Dust from soil can be tracked into the home • Remove shoes before entering the house • Lead-based paint can create lead-dust as well • Especially when sanding and opening and shutting windows and doors • Wet-clean often to reduce lead-dust • Floors • Windows • Chewable surfaces

11. Prevention • Nutrition • Eat foods high in calcium and iron and low in fat.

12. Prevention • Fish Consumption Advisories • Fish are a great source of nutrients. • Some specific species of fish in the Big River and Flat River have been found to have high levels of lead in the tissue. • Sunfish, suckers, and carp • Bass species have not been found to have high lead levels. • Eat filleted fish. Lead accumulates in bones, so preparing fish with bone left in may increase lead intake. • Avoid fishing weights that are made out of lead. • Use weights made of alternative materials, especially for kids. • Tungsten, bismuth, steel, tin, and other.

13. Jeff Wenzel Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services 930 Wildwood Jefferson City MO 65102 (573) 751-6102 or toll free (866) 628-9891