The Flint, Michigan water crisis, in which thousands of people were exposed to lead through contaminated water and pipes, reminded us that lead can lurk in many places, exposing children and adults to it every year. More recently, officials in the Newark, New Jersey school district turned off school water fountains amid concerns, after annual testing, that too much lead was leaching into the water from its outdated pipes.
The reality is, lead is a naturally-occurring element in thousands of places. Most of it won't harm the healthy adult (so you can stop searching Amazon for a lead-protecting body bubble). Adults are typically exposed by either eating or inhaling lead, or by being chronically exposed to it. However, young children are at higher risk. Not only are they more likely to be exposed to lead (since everything they find goes into their mouths), their developing brains and bodies are more vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning.
So if you have young children at home, keep these three key culprits for hidden lead exposure in mind.
Dishware: Certain dishes/utensils carry higher amounts of lead -- creating significant risk because the heating process can cause lead to leach into the food, which we then eat. Highest risk is dishes manufactured in a foreign country (especially those cute ceramic bowls you picked up on your last trip) and older dishware, since the FDA didn't regulate lead in dishes until the 1970s. Newer dishes are less likely to be a concern, since stores face increased scrutiny and most big chains conform to California's tougher standard.
But to be on the safe side, follow these tips:
1. Microwave and store food in glass, not on ceramic dishware, since heating and storing (especially acidic foods) increase the risk that the lead will leak into the food.
2. If a dish is chipped/cracked replace it. Even in dishes purchased today, some lead may be present -- and the glaze has to be intact to prevent lead from leaching out. So, if the glaze is disrupted (or just looks a little dusty/chalky after washing), the safest bet is to replace the dish.
3. Consider buying "lead-free" dishware (you can find it in many stores now).
Toys: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bans the use of lead in many children's products, but not all. In addition, periodic recalls show that lead-laden toys manufactured in other countries do make their way stateside. Antique toys are often covered in lead-based paint, making them another bad choice for any young child.
What to do:
1. Avoid vinyl toys (think soft leathery-type toys and even shoes): These can be legally sold with certain lead levels because children aren't expected to swallow or chew on them. (But any parent of a toddler knows what kids do with toys!)
2. Toss out "free" toys that are metal or painted. According to Dr. Gaylord Lopez, director of the Georgia Poison Center, you can't know where they were manufactured, so best to play it safe.
3. Save the antique toys until kids are older.
4. Sign up for government recalls of toys from the CPSC.
5. For the youngest children, consider purchasing toys that are made in the U.S., or online sites will help you know which brands are specifically lead-free. Also, only buy toys for that specific age group, since toys for youngest children have more stringent requirements).
Jewelry: A piece of metal toy jewelry was responsible for a child's death of lead poisoning after he swallowed it in 2006, leading to a large recall. In addition to toy jewelry, foreign-made jewelry poses a risk.
How to Lower Your Risk:
1. Don't let young children play with toy metal jewelry or your costume jewelry (a good rule of thumb anyway, since many of these are choking risks).
2. Keep your fantastic bracelets from your global travels out of reach, until your child is old enough to not put them in her mouth.
Still concerned? Many states mandate that all children be tested for lead exposure, but not all states. If you're concerned that your child may be exposed to lead, speak with your pediatrician to see if a blood test is warranted. And if you just want to check your house, contact your State Department of Health to find a local inspector.
Want to learn more? Listen to my interview with Dr. Gaylord Lopez, Director of the Georgia Poison Center, and subscribe to Sharecare Radio on iTunes.
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This content originally appeared on Sharecare.com.
Check out more articles by Dr. Darria Long Gillespie.
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