2006 Press Releases

SAINT BARNABAS DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS OFFERS FACTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF LEAD TO CHILDREN

Livingston, N.J -- Lead from paint, dust, and soil can be dangerous if not managed properly. According to the Northern New Jersey Maternal Child Health Consortium, lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.

“Even children who seem healthy can have high lead levels in their bodies,” says Susan Margolin, M.D., Chief of General Pediatrics, Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “Testing for lead in the body is important because children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, lead-based paint is most often found in homes built before 1978. Deteriorating lead-based paint, which shows signs of peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking, can be a hazard to both children and adults.

The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center offers the following information about the impact of lead on child health.

Lead gets in the body many ways. Children may:

• Breathe lead dust during renovations
• Put their hands or other objects in their mouths that contain lead
• Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead

Lead is even more DANGEROUS to children than adults because:

• Their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the effects of lead
• Children’s growing bodies absorb more lead
• Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths, which can have lead dust on them

Lead EFFECTS: If not detected early:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity)
• Slowed growth
• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Hearing problems

If you think your home has high levels of lead:

• Get your young children tested for lead, even if they seem healthy
• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often
• Make sure children eat healthy, low fat foods
• Get your home checked for lead hazards
• Regularly clean floors, window sills and other surfaces
• Wipe soil off shoes before entering house
• Fix surfaces with peeling or chipping paint
• Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating
• Don’t use a belt sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper/dry sander on painted surfaces that may contain lead
• Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself. Improper removal can increase the danger to your family.

The John and Jacqueline McMullen Children’s Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center provides enhanced, centralized care for young patients. The Medical Center cares for more pediatric patients than any other hospital in New Jersey and the new Children’s Center helps to meet all of their needs. For additional information about any of our pediatric programs or services, please call the Pediatric Specialty Center at (973) 322-7600 or our Physician Referral Service at 1-888-SBHS-123.

Date: November 4, 2006

[ top ]