Information for Parents

How are children exposed to lead?

The main source of household lead exposure is from lead in paint, found in houses built before 1978.  Dust and flaking paint is a major source of lead for children.  Lead may be present in soil surrounding old buildings that were painted with lead paint, and close to roads, where lead from gasoline may have settled.

Lead may be in water in older homes where the pipes, fixtures, or solder may contain lead.  The Office of Drinking Water can provide further information about water quality in Virginia.

Some professions and hobbies may expose parents to lead, which can then be brought to the home on their clothing.  Visit our Information for Adults page for more information about these sources.

Many consumer products, including some toys, jewelry, imported spices, cosmetics, medicines, and old vinyl blinds, may include lead.

Traditional medicines that have been known to contain lead: 

• Azarcon, Ba-baw-san, Bali Gholia, Daw Tway, Ghasard, Greta, Kandu, Paylooah

Traditional cosmetics that have been known to contain lead:

• Kajal, Kohl, Sindoor, Surma

For more information about recalled products due to lead contamination, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Is there lead in food?

Overall, food is not a major source lead.  However, there are a few food sources that can be a risk for lead exposure:

• • Some imported spices can contain lead, such as:
    • Kviteli kvavali, svanuri marili, kharcho suneli, utskho suneli, turmeric, curry, masala, and adjika.
  • Leafy greens grown in contaminated soil may be a source of lead from the dust
  • Hunting with lead shot can be a source of lead in meat

How can I keep my family safe from lead in the environment?

Simple prevention measures can keep you and your family safe from sources of lead in your home.  If you are pregnant, you should follow the same advice to avoid exposing yourself to lead, which can be passed on to your baby.

Keeping a clean environment by removing shoes when entering the house, by wet-wiping and wet-mopping (especially around window sills and house entrances), and by regularly washing children’s hands and toys can prevent lead exposure in older houses where lead paint has been used.  Prioritize cleaning areas of the home where children under the age of three spend their time.  Prevent children from playing in bare soil, and cover it by planting grass, or with mulch or wood chips.  Avoid planting gardens close to old structures or roads.  Wash children’s hands and change their clothes after playing outside to prevent bringing lead from soil into the house.

Running the water for about a minute before use, and using cold water to cook, drink, and mix baby formula with can help reduce exposure to lead if it is in your plumbing.

It is important to use lead-safe practices when doing renovations on older homes.  You can learn more about how to protect your family during home renovations at our page for homeowners.

Learn more about consumer goods that may have lead in them.

Adults who are exposed to lead through work or hobbies should take steps to avoid bringing lead into the home by:

• Changing clothes immediately after coming home
• Taking off shoes before entering the home
• Washing hands before entering the house or interacting with children
• Making sure children under 6 and pregnant women do not eat meat harvested with lead bullets.

How do I know if my child has been exposed to lead?

Testing your child’s blood may be the only way to determine whether your child is being exposed to lead.  An initial screening is often done with blood collected from a finger prick, which can be tested in many doctor’s offices.  If an elevated level of lead is detected, a follow-up test using blood collected from a vein may be needed to confirm the first test.

Children should be screened for lead at 12 and 24 months if they meet any of the following criteria.  If not previously tested, children up to 72 months should be tested if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. Eligible for or receiving benefits from Medicaid or WIC
      2. Living in or regularly visiting housing or child care facility built before 1960
      3. Living in or regularly visiting housing built before 1978 with peeling or chipping paint or recent (within the last 6 months), ongoing or planned renovations
      4. Living with or regularly visiting housing in which one or more persons have evidence of lead exposure
      5. Living with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead
      6. Living near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant, or other industry likely to release lead
      7. The child’s parent or guardian requests the child’s blood be tested due to any suspected exposure
      8. Recent refugee, immigrant, or child adopted from outside the U.S.

What do I do if my child has lead in his or her blood?

The state of Virginia has guidelines for healthcare providers to follow up on cases of children with blood lead levels equal to or higher than 5 μg lead/dl blood, which includes interventions ranging from education about avoiding lead exposure for low levels, up through medical interventions for high levels.  There is no medical treatment for children whose blood lead levels are below 45 μg/dL, so it is important to remove the source of lead and maintain a healthy diet.

If your child has low levels of lead in their blood (below 10 μg/dL):

• • Learn about potential sources of lead exposure
  • Remove sources of lead
    • Consider all household or locations where your child spends time, including at daycare or grandparents' houses
    • Lead levels will go down once there is no more exposure
  • Implement lead-safe practices in your household
  • Talk to your doctor about when to have your child's blood tested again
  • Follow a good diet for your family (anemia increases the risk of lead poisoning)
    • Increase calcium, iron, and vitamin C in their diet
    • Avoid fried and fatty foods
  • Have the other children in the home under the age of 6 tested

If your child has high levels of lead in their blood (10 μg/dL or higher), a case manager from your local health department will work with you on the next steps.

What are the dangers of lead exposure during pregnancy?

Elevated lead levels in pregnancy have been associated with adverse outcomes for both maternal and fetal health. It can cause: 

• Increased risk of stillbirth and miscarriage.
• Increased risk of the baby being born preterm.
• Increased risk of the baby having a low birthweight.
• Damage to the baby’s brain, kidneys, and nervous system.
• Future developmental and learning problems in the baby.

How can I keep myself and my baby safe from the harmful effects of lead?

There are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your baby from the harmful effects of lead, such as:

• Wet-wipe and wet-mop around window sills and home entrances.
• Wash your hands often.
• Remove your shoes before entering your home.
• If a family member has a job or hobby that exposes them to lead, ask them to take off their shoes before coming inside and change their clothes immediately after coming home. Learn more about jobs or hobbies that increase risk of lead exposure here.
• Do not remodel your home, do not sand paint, and do not remove paint with a heat gun while you are pregnant. 

How do I know if I am at risk of being exposed to lead?

You are at an increased risk of being exposed to lead if you: 

• Live in a home built before 1978.
• Are a recent immigrant or refugee.
• Use imported pottery or ceramics to prepare and store food. 
• Have old plumbing and pipes in your home.
• Live with someone who has a job or hobby that may expose them to lead, such as welding, metalwork, building renovation, stained glass, casting, or soldering. 
• Developed pica (eating or putting non-food items in your mouth) during your pregnancy.
• Use traditional folk remedies or cosmetics. 

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and fall under any of these risk categories, ask your doctor to give you a blood lead test.