Lead poisoning: The risk is real, prevention is key

with Catherine Slota-Varma, M.D., Pediatrician, Columbia St. Mary's

Posted: July 1, 2004

Milwaukee’s children are much more at-risk for lead poisoning than the average child in the United States.

“In 2003, 11.5 percent of 1- to 6-year-olds in the city of Milwaukee had blood levels of 10 [micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood] or above,” said Catherine Slota-Varma, M.D., a pediatrician with Columbia St. Mary’s. “This compares with 2.2 percent of children in this age group nationally. In Milwaukee’s higher risk areas, on the near-North side and the near-South side, 31 percent of children in this age group had high lead levels.” The recommended blood level is fewer than 10 micrograms.

Catherine Slota-Varma, M.D., Pediatrician, Columbia St. Mary's "One of the most important things we can do is get the word out. Lead poisoning is a problem that can be prevented."

Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. It can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death.

Dr. Slota-Varma is on the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. At the state level, she is a member of a committee preparing a document for eliminating lead poisoning by 2010. Dr. Slota-Varma said that Milwaukee is well-known nationwide as a city taking a proactive stance on lead poisoning.

Who is at risk?
The major sources of lead exposure among children are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978, but millions of housing units in the U.S. have deteriorated leaded paint, which can crack and chip.

Children under the age of 3 are especially at risk for lead poisoning because they may put their hands in their mouths after touching something contaminated by lead.

Dr. Slota-Varma said that all families living in the city of Milwaukee in homes built before 1978 should have their children tested for lead poisoning at ages 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. Older children who have younger siblings with high lead levels should be tested as well. Families outside the city but still in a home built before 1978 should have their children tested at ages 1 and 2.

“The greatest danger is windows — windows, windows,” Dr. Slota-Varma emphasized. “If windows are replaced, the risk of lead poisoning goes down substantially.”

Washing windows can reduce risk
A first step to reducing the hazard lead paint poses is the proper cleaning of windows. With the lower sash raised, use a wet paper towel or rag to remove paint chips and dirt from the exterior sill of each window. Then, use soap and water to clean the entire exterior area. Wipe down the trim and interior sill of each window, using clean rags or paper towels and water. Do this from top to bottom and dispose of rags as you go along. Flush all dirty water down the toilet.

Lead paint removal requires specialized methods
The award-winning Milwaukee Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (see information below) can recommend contractors who specialize in removal of lead paint. Do-it-yourselfers should talk to experts in the program or go to the group’s Web site before attempting to remove lead paint themselves. If done incorrectly, scraping lead paint can be more dangerous to children than leaving it on the window.

Help is available
Renters need to know that landlords have a legal responsibility to take care of homes with lead paint. If a child has high lead levels, a nurse and a health service associate from the Milwaukee Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will come to the child’s home for an assessment of the risk. If the child lives in a rental property, the landlord will be notified that he or she must take action.

Some property owners are eligible for assistance in the removal of lead paint, depending on income level.

For more information, call the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, (414) 286-5987 or visit their Web site at www.ci.mil.wi.us/citygov/health/lead

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