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Lead Poisoning in Lead Poisoning in Wisconsin for High School Wisconsin for High School

StudentsStudents

Presented byPresented byWisconsin School NursesWisconsin School Nurses

Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention ProgramWisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention ProgramImplementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) Education WorkgroupImplementation and Oversight Committee (IOC) Education Workgroup

Division of Public HealthDivision of Public HealthDepartment of Health ServicesDepartment of Health Services

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What You Will Learn About Lead What You Will Learn About Lead Poisoning in WisconsinPoisoning in Wisconsin

► What deteriorated lead paint looks likeWhat deteriorated lead paint looks like

► Effects of lead poisoning on children, youth & adultsEffects of lead poisoning on children, youth & adults

► Lead Poisoning in WisconsinLead Poisoning in Wisconsin

► How do you know if you are lead poisoned How do you know if you are lead poisoned

► What should you do if you are lead poisonedWhat should you do if you are lead poisoned

► How to prevent lead poisoningHow to prevent lead poisoning

► Resources for informationResources for information

What Does Chipping and Peeling Paint Look Like?

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Obvious Hazards alligatoring/checking paint

Windows

Exterior Hazards

Porches

Exterior porches: toprails, decks and other horizontal surfaces. The annual spring project.

Sources of Lead Poisoning

►Children under the age of 6 are susceptible to lead poisoning if they live or spend time in a home with lead dust or deteriorating varnish.

Question: WHY?

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Because they have:

► Normal hand-to-mouth behavior

► Rapidly developing nervous

system - vulnerable to the

effects of lead

► Higher rate of absorption

Answer:

Question:

How much lead dust does

it take to poison a child?

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How does lead get into the body?►Ingested - mouth (most common

source of exposure for children)

►Inhaled - nose (usually occupational exposure)

►Lead dust is not absorbed through the skin.

How Lead Affects Children

Question:

What can happen to

children, youth and adults

as a result of lead

poisoning?

Effects of Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning interferes with the normal

development of a child’s brain and can cause

learning and behavior problems.

Huttenlocher, Neuropsycologia 1990;28:517-27

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End of critical period

Most sensitive phase

Key Period of Synapse Development

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The toxic effects of lead on the brain can disrupt the normal development of:

►Emotional response►Memory►Learning►Speech and Language►Hearing

How Lead Affects Children

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A youth or adult is at risk of lead exposure if they:► Work in an occupation that uses lead

► Renovate a home that was built before 1978

► Have a hobby that uses lead, such as: Reloading bullets or target shooting

Casting fishing weights

Stained glass or ceramics

How Lead Affects Youth and Adults

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Symptoms that can be related to lead include:

► Headaches

► Dizziness

► Sleep disturbances

► Memory problems

► Muscle/joint aches and pains

► Irritability

► Fatigue

► Nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss

► Fertility problems, miscarriages

How Lead Affects Youth and Adults

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The behavioral effects of teenagers exposed to lead as a child can result in:

►Increased rates of high school dropout

►Anti-social behavior (juvenile delinquency,

teenage pregnancy)

►Committing the most violent crimes as youth

and adults.

How Lead Affects Youth

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A recent study showed that youth who have been lead poisoned may feel:

►Panic

►Depression

How Lead Affects Youth

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Long term effects related to lead in adults can include such things as:

► High blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes

► Premature death because of the above

► Neurological problems

► Kidney disease

► Mood disorders such as anxiety, hostility or depression

► Memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease

How Lead Affects Adults

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Wisconsin-Specific Data

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Lead poisoning in Wisconsin is a statewide problem.

Each red dot represents an address associated with a lead-poisoned child, 1996-2010.

More than 46,000 children.

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How do I know if anyone in my Family is Lead-Poisoned?

BLOOD LEAD TESTING

The only way to know if a child, youth or adult is lead poisoned is to have blood lead test.

•Capillary blood draw

•Venous blood draw ( a Venous blood draw is recommended for youth age > 16 and adults)

What Happens if Someone in My Family is Lead Poisoned?

•Dr. will provide medical guidance about retesting

•Environmental guidance about your home or the lead source from your Local Health Department

• Information from the State Programs: Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (WCLPPP) or the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology Surveillance Program (ABLES)

Nutrition is Important!

Eat a healthy diet!

•Calcium (Lead replaces calcium)

•Iron (Adequate iron decreases lead absorption)

•Vitamin C (Enhances iron absorption)

•Zinc, Thiamin and Vitamin E (Reduce the toxic effects of lead).

•Low fat diet (Fat absorbs lead)

Question:

►What Foods Contain Calcium?

Answer:

►Calcium

Question:

What Foods Contain Iron?

Answer:►IRON

Question:

What Foods Contain Vitamin C?

Answer:►Vitamin C:

Question:

What Foods Contain Zinc?

Answer:►Zinc

Question:

What Foods Contain Vitamin E?

Answer:

►Vitamin E

Question:

►What Foods Contain Thiamine?

Answer:►Thiamin

Question:

►What can you do to prevent lead poisoning?

Answer:

► Eat healthy

► Be aware of lead hazards (deteriorated paint or varnish)

► Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially if you are working with lead

► Research if a mask or gloves are necessary for protection when doing a hobby or occupation that uses lead

► Talk with your physician about getting a simple blood test if you work with lead

Question:

►Remember the pictures at the beginning of this presentation? For Children….

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Treatment of the environment is the primary

prevention.

FIX THE HOUSE!

Preventing Lead Poisoning for Children

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Materials available from Materials available from WCLPPPWCLPPP

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Materials available from Materials available from WCLPPPWCLPPP

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Resources:

1. Your Local Health Department

2. WCLPPP website: dhs.wi.gov/lead

3. WCLPPP and ABLES Phone Number:

608/266-5817