ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR WATER? SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR WATER? By Dennis Hinkamp Consumer information Writer Utah State University The February issue of Consumer Reports magazine "recommends every household test its tap water for lead." Is this essential and realistic for Utah? The effects of lead on learning ability and general health are well documented, but several natural properties of Utah's water supply make high lead levels in our water supply unlikely. Utah's water supply sources contain little lead. However, most of the lead in household water supplies comes for the pipes that the water runs through, not the water that comes from the well, lake or river. Several natural attributes of Utah's water supply make high levels of lead in drinking water unlikely says Kitt Farrell-Poe, Utah State University environmental engineering specialist. In general, Utah's water supply is "dispositive" rather than "aggressive." What that means is that because our water supply is full of minerals, or "hard," it deposits a protective layer inside the pipes keeping any lead from solder or the pipes away from the water. Utah water is also low acidity which means it doesn't leach lead out of the pipes if does come in contact with them. According to Ken Bothfield, compliance program manager in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water, about 80 percent of Utah's population is supplied by about 10 percent of the water systems in the state. In testing the largest systems, Bothfield says the highest household level found was 8 ppb (parts per billion) lead content. Most were lower. Farrell-Poe say the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 15 ppb a dangerous level at which you should make changes in you household water supply. Bothfield says every house hasn't been tested, of course, so it's possible that there are some that have higher levels. Testing for lead is available throughout the state for about $15. You can get a list of testing facilities and instructions from the Utah Department of Health, Division of Laboratories, 46 Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113. Bothfield says if you do test your household water try to get a "first draw" sample. This means the first water out of the tap in the morning before you flush the toilet or take a shower. This water will have been sitting in the pipes overnight which is probably the longest time it normally would in your household. The result of this sample can be considered a "worst case" sample. All other times of the day the water should yield lower levels of lead. He says if your sample level does come in high or you just want to take preventive measures on your own. This doesn't require replumbing your home or buying expensive filtering systems. Simple lifestyle changes can greatly reduce levels of lead in your drinking water. The simplest method is to let your tap run for a minute or two before taking your first drink in the morning or upon returning home. He says flushing the toilet or taking a shower will accomplish the same goal -- it will clear the pipes of water that has been sitting long enough to possibly absorb lead. PENpages News Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences 405 Ag Admin, University Park, PA 16802 Voice 814-865-1229 Fax 814-863-7209 Internet: news@psupen.psu.edu June 20, 1994 Document Number: 1019836 - NEWS SERVICE -- 6/2/94 LEAD FROM WELL PUMPS CAN CONTAMINATE DRINKING WATER UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- An estimated 750,000 Pennsylvanians may be in danger of getting "pumped full of lead." The lead is coming from submersible well pumps and getting rid of it could be expensive, says a water quality expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and the Environmental Resources Research Institute. "A recent study has found that many of these pumps could be leaching high amounts of lead into private water supplies," says William Sharpe, professor of forest hydrology. "Pennsylvania has more than a million individual private water systems that provide an estimated 2.5 million people with drinking water," he says. "Most of these systems are deep wells fed by groundwater, and about 20,000 new wells are drilled in the state each year. Since no government agency monitors private systems, those who rely on individual wells should have their water tested and take action if necessary." Submersible well pumps made of stainless steel and plastic do not cause any lead problems. But most pumps are constructed with brass fittings and housings. Brass alloys used in such pumps contain lead. If water coming from a well is corrosive, meaning it is soft and acidic, lead can dissolve into drinking water, posing a potential health risk. "If your water is not corrosive, you probably won't have a lead problem," says Sharpe. Children and fetuses are at greatest risk from lead exposure. Once in the bloodstream, lead can cause serious neurological damage, loss of IQ, mental retardation and other problems. Lead also may cause hypertension, hearing loss and kidney and liver damage. Penn State research has shown how often lead is found in Pennsylvania's private water supplies. "We sampled about 1,600 individual supplies from around the state," says Sharpe. "About 20 percent had lead concentrations higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's action level of 15 parts per billion, and nearly 30 percent exceeded 10 parts per billion, which is considered unacceptable by many in the environmental health community. That means about 750,000 rural Pennsylvanians may be exposed to excessive lead. "In most cases, lead in drinking water is thought to come primarily from lead-soldered plumbing joints," he says. "We don't know exactly how much well pump fittings are contributing to the problem." To find out, homeowners with wells should have their water tested. "To do this, take a first-draw sample from your faucet first thing in the morning," Sharpe explains. "Then let the water run for 30 seconds or longer and take a second sample. Comparing this to the first-draw sample will help determine how much lead is coming from your well and how much is coming from your inside plumbing." The samples should be tested by a firm certified to check for lead. A list of certified testing firms is available from any county office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. If excessive lead is found to be coming from a well pump, a homeowner has several options: -- Contact a well-driller to have the pump's brass fittings replaced. -- Install a point-of-use treatment system that removes lead. "We usually recommend activated aluminum or reverse osmosis treatment systems," says Sharpe. "The January 1990 and February 1993 issues of Consumer Reports, available in most libraries, contain useful reviews of lead removal treatment equipment." -- Use bottled water for drinking and cooking. If high levels of lead are found to be coming only from leaded components of your inside plumbing, you have another option. "Since it takes about an hour for lead to begin leaching from pipes, let the water run for about 30 seconds to flush any water that's been in the pipes for more than an hour," says Sharpe. "Your tap water then should be safe to drink. To conserve water, do this once in the morning, fill a container and place it in your refrigerator. That water can be used for drinking the rest of the day. "But if the lead is coming from your pump, this method won't work because you can't very easily flush all the water out of your well." For more information about lead in drinking water or household water testing, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in your county. EDITORS: Contact William Sharpe at (814) 863-8564. #167 Editor: Chuck Gill Ag Information Services -- News & Publications Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences 106 Ag. Admin., University Park PA 16802-2602 (814) 863-2713 June 3, 1994 Document Number: 283012447 - Getting the Lead out of Just About Everything ______________________________________________________________________ Even though lead has been removed from major consumer products such as interior house paints, most gasoline, and solder used to seal canned food, it continues to show up in our environment and present a threat to human health. At greatest risk are children. According to the Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning (February 1991), "Lead poisoning remains the most common and societally devastating environmental disease of young children." Lead has its most damaging effects on rapidly growing biological systems, i.e., developing fetuses, infants and small children. In addition to the properties of lead, the behaviors of young children (e.g. putting their hands in their mouth, playing in soil, and eating non food objects) increases their exposure to lead. Listed below are some key points about lead that appeared in an article of the "FDA Consumer." 1. Lead has no known functions or health benefits to humans. 2. Lead is considered a metabolic poison. This means it slows down or stops some of the basic enzyme functions of the body. 3. The body cannot tell the difference between lead and calcium, therefore it is absorbed and accumulated in the bones over a lifetime. 4. Effects of lead on children may result in the following: lower IQ and impaired reading, writing, math, visual and motor skills, language, abstract thinking, and concentration. Other results of eating lead could include irritability, insomnia, colic, and anemia. Damage to the child's nervous system is permanent. 5. Chemet, is a new drug that is designed to remove lead from the body. It works by binding with the lead in the bloodstream and speeding up its elimination from the body in the urine. Chemet has been approved for use only in children with lead levels above 45 micrograms per deciliter. 6. Currently, lead poisoning in children is defined as 25 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. A microgram is one millionth of a gram and there are 28 grams in one ounce. A deciliter is a tenth of a liter (about one quart). 7. The lead glaze on most ceramic foodware sold in the United States is formulated, applied, and fired in such a way that the final product is not effected by food and beverages. 8. Imported ceramic products have had the most violations of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standards for the maximum allowable amount of leachable lead in ceramic products. The FDA standards are: Flatware 7 parts per million Small Holloware 5 parts per million Large Holloware 2.5 parts per million FDA has an agreement with the People's Republic of China which requires the Chinese government to certify that shipments of ceramic ware to the United States have been tested and that they meet FDA requirements. Similar agreements are being considered for the countries of Italy, Spain and Hong Kong. Source: Greeley, Alexandra, "Getting the Lead Out of Just About Everything," FDA CONSUMER, July-August 1991. Reviewer: Cathy F. Bowen, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Extension Education, Penn State April 6, 1994 Document Number: 28603810 - How to Avoid Lead Exposure _______________________________________________________________________ Lead may be almost everywhere, but consumers can take practical steps to limit their exposure to it. Several experts give the following advice: FOOD AND FOOD RELATED PRODUCTS * Make sure children's hands are clean before they eat. * If using leaded crystal ware for drinking, do not use it on a daily basis, do not store liquids in it, do not use it while pregnant, and do not let children use it. Lead crystal baby bottles should not be used for infant feedings. * Some imported foods are still packed in lead soldered cans. If your grocer cannot assure you that a particular product is not packed in a lead soldered can, your best bet is to limit consumption of imported canned foods. * If using older or imported ceramic products, avoid storing acidic foods in them or better yet, have them tested. If they test high in lead, use only for decorative purposes or discontinue use or dispose of the item. There are at least four home test kits on the market: Test for Lead in Potter ($25) and the FRANDON Lead Alert Kit ($29.95), Frandon Enterprises Inc., P. O. Box 300321, Seattle, Washington, or (1- 800-359-9000. LeadCheck Swabs ($25) or LeadCheck Swabs-Half Packs ($15), HybriVet Systems, Inc., P. O. Box 1210, Framingham, Mass. 01701, or (1-800-262- LEAD). LeadTest ($10), Verify, Inc., 1185 Chess Drive, Suite 202, Foster City, CA 94404-1109, or (1-415-578-9401). LEADCHECK II ($25), distributed by Michigan Ceramic Supplies, 4048 Seventh St., P. O. Box 342, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192 (1-313-281-2300). HOUSEHOLD PAINT Although lead-based paints have been banned for use in residences, numerous older private homes and public housing units still contain these paints. As a precaution: * Keep painted surfaces in good repair so that older layers of paint are not exposed, chipping or peeling. * Do not allow children to eat paint chips. * Hire only a professional contractor to remove lead-based paints from any surface. People can poison themselves by burning or scraping off layers of paint. Lead dust is generated and if not contained properly sticks to household surfaces and is dispersed into the air. WATER In order for your water to contain lead, there must be a source, such as lead service lines to the house, brass faucets, and/or lead solder on water pipes. Jeff Cohen, chief of the Lead Task Force at EPA's Office of Water, says that lead is not a hazard in everyone's home because, in general, lead levels in drinking water are low. But he says that concerned homeowners or apartment dwellers can take several steps to reduce lead content in water: * Begin with a water analysis---usually available at a cost of $15--- on your household water. Do not run the water for six to eight hours before testing---lead may leach from pipes into still water. * If the analysis shows that lead levels are about 20 ppb or higher, let water run before first use in the morning for 30 seconds or until the water runs cool. This flushes the lines. Do not use hot water for drinking or cooking since lead leaches more easily into hot water. * Take further action, call your local water supplier to find out if your home/apartment is connected to the water main by lead service connections. If so, and if the service lines belong to the water supplier, ask is they have plans to replace the lines. If you own the lines, the supplier can help locate the name of a contractor to change them. * Never use lead solder to repair plumbing. Source: "How to Avoid Lead Exposure," Reprinted from FDA CONSUMER, July-August 1991, p. 30. Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement is implied. Reviewer: Cathy F. Bowen, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Extension Education, Penn State April 6, 1994 Document Number: 28603811 - EXTENSION News -------------------- West Virginia University Extension Service Extension News Geraldine Kessel, Extension Specialist--Communications Hidden Danger for Young Children Before you begin that remodeling project take time to assess a hidden danger for your young children. The hidden danger is overexposure to lead. Anyone can be harmed by exposure to lead but children between the ages of 1 and 6 are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning. Untreated, lead poisoning can result in behavioral problems, learning disabilities, mental retardation and permanent brain damage. This problem is not confined to one area of the country or to a specific economic background. Eating lead paint chips was thought to be the major cause of lead poisoning among children however even dust from deterioration of old lead paint can cause overexposure. Parents are often unaware when exposure to paint dust has taken place. For example, when small children play with a toy truck and run it across a dusty floor, dust picked up by the truck wheels is transferred to the children's hands. When the children place their fingers in their mouths or eat without washing their hands, small amounts of lead dust are ingested. While our bodies can tolerate a small amount of lead exposure, over time dangerous levels can accumulate in the body. For small children, it has been suggested that any level of lead may be dangerous. Since 1970 the use of high lead paint in homes and public buildings has been illegal. Older homes and buildings painted before the ban may have old lead paint covered with other paints or wall coverings. Remodeling often disturbs old layers of paint which can cause paint chips and paint dust in homes and areas where children play. Before beginning a remodeling project consider having the paint in homes constructed before the 1980's tested for lead if the paint or underlying surface is deteriorating. There are do-it-yourself kits available, but they have not been evaluated by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. One such kit requires placing a drop of sodium sulfide solution on a paint chip. The paint chip will turn darker if lead is present, however other metals in the paint may give a false reading and the test only works on light colored paints. Another in-home test requires a trained profession to operate a x-ray fluorescence machine to determine if paint contains lead. Since the equipment contains radioactive materials the operator must be trained either by the manufacturer of the equipment and/or have passed a state or local training course. Evaluation of a paint sample can also be accomplished by sending a paint chip approximately 2 inches by 2 inches to a testing laboratory. The testing laboratory will have specific procedures to follow to assure that a true sample is obtained. More information may be obtained about the dangers of lead poisoning and testing for paint by contacting your local extension agent or by contacting the West Virginia University's Safety and Health Extension at 1-800-626-4748. (Prepared by Cheryl Johnson.) Robert Knight, Extension Specialist - Communications 714 Knapp Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506-6031 WVU Extension Service West Virginia University Phone: (304) 293-4221 Internet: KNIGHT@WVNVMS.WVNET.EDU November 2, 1993 Document Number: 80011383 - LEAD TOXICITY IN CHILDREN REFERENCES FROM THE AGRICOLA DATABASE May 1992 CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION : A RESOURCE DIRECTORY. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. Washington, D.C. (38th and R Sts., NW, Washington, 20057). 1989, 57 p. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RA1231.L4C5 This directory is a reference guide to state and local program activities and resources in lead poisoning prevention. The names of directors of state and local programs are included along with a list of educational materials. Gram,-Ivy-F. LEAD POISONING AND PREVENTION : A TRAINING MODULE FOR NUTRITION PARAPROFESSIONALS. Boston, MA : Massachusetts WIC Program : University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension, 1989. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RA1231.L4G7 This booklet is a teaching module designed to teach nutrition paraprofessionals and others basic information about lead poisoning. Coppens,-N.M.; Hunter,-P.N.; Bain,-J.A.; Gatewood,-A.K.; Gordon,-D.A.; Mailloux,-M.S. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS AND ENROLLMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. Fam-Community-Health. February 1990. v. 12 (4) p. 39-46. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RA421.F35 The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of enrollment in special education for children with lead poisoning. Markowtiz,-M.E.; Rosen,-J.F.; Bijur,-P.E. EFFECTS OF IRON DEFICIENCY ON LEAD EXCRETION IN CHILDREN WITH MODERATE LEAD INTOXICATION. J-Pediatr. March 1990. v. 116 (3) p. 360-364. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RJ1.A453 Descriptors: diet-. mineral-deficiencies. iron-. lead-poisoning. lead-. excretion-. Thomas,-D.J.; Chisolm,-J.J.-Jr. TOXIC AND ESSENTIAL METAL LOSS DURING CHELATION THERAPY OF LEAD-POISONED CHILDREN. Trace elements in man and animals 6 / edited by Lucille S. Hurley, et al. New York : Plenum Press, 1988. p. 73-74. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL QP534.I5-1987 Descriptors: lead-poisoning. children-. metals-. chelating-agents. toxicity-. treatment-. Shukla,-R.; Bornschein,-R.L.; Dietrich,-K.N.; Buncher,-C.R.; Berger,-O.G.; Hammond,-P.B.; Succop,-P.A. FETAL AND INFANT LEAD EXPOSURE: EFFECTS ON GROWTH IN STATURE. Pediatrics. October 1989. v. 84 (4) p. 604-612. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.P42 The growth of a cohort of 260 infants was prospectively followed from birth. Blood lead and stature measurements were obtained every 3 months until 15 months of age. Fetal lead exposure was indexed by measuring lead in maternal blood during pregnancy. Oskarsson,-Agneta. EXPOSURE OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN TO LEAD : WORKING DOCUMENT FOR THE 30TH MEETING OF THE JOINT FAO/WHO EXPERT COMMITTEE ON FOOD ADDITIVES HELD IN ROME, 2-11 JUNE 1986. Rome : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1989, 55 p. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX341.F605-NO.45 Descriptors: Lead-Toxicology. Pediatric-toxicology. Shannon,-M.; Graef,-J.W. LEAD INTOXICATION: FROM LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER USED TO RECONSTITUTE INFANT FORMULA. Clin-Pediatr. August 1989. v. 28 (8) p. 380-382. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.C55 The authors describe a 13-month-old infant with plumbism. The lead source was ultimately traced to the daily administration of powdered formula which was prepared with home tap water. Hernandez-Mendez,-J.; Jimenez-de-Blas,-O.; Valle-Gonzalez,-A.-del; Alonso-Gutierrez,-D. CORRELATION BETWEEN LEAD CONTENT IN HUMAN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND THE USE OF VITRIFIED EARTHENWARE CONTAINERS FOR FOODS AND BEVERAGES. Food-Chem. 1989. v. 31 (3) p. 205-213. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX501.F6 The levels of lead in wines, vinegars and food preserving liquids stored in glass earthenware containers were measured. The lead contamination of these beverages was correlated with the lead content in the biological fluids of the children and adults consuming such foods and beverages and to the lead content in the containers. Briner,-W. THE ROLE OF LEAD AND NUTRITION IN CHILDREN AT RISK. Nutr-Rep-Int. June 1988. v. 37 (6) p. 1275-1279. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RC620.A1N8 Thirty-seven children from a local Head Start preschool program were assessed for nutritional status, lead status, and cognitive performance. Clark,-M.; Royal,-J.; Seeler,-R. INTERACTION OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND LEAD AND THE HEMATOLOGIC FINDINGS IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE LEAD POISONING. Pediatrics. February 1988. v. 81 (2) p. 247-254. charts. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.P42 Microcytic anemia, long considered an effect of lead poisoning, may in fact result from coexisting iron deficiency. In this study, how RBC size, hemoglobin, and zinc protoporphyrin vary as a function of iron status in a group of children with high lead levels was examined. Lansdown,-richard.; Yule,-William LEAD TOXICITY: HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, c1986. viii, 286 p. NAL CALL NO.: RA1231.L4L435 An authoritative text for those professionals involved in the varied disciplines dealing with lead (Pb) and children presents detailed reviews by experts in their respective fields. Carraccio,-C.L.; Bergman,-G.E.; Daley,-B.P. COMBINED IRON DEFICIENCY AND LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN. Clin-Pediatr. December 1987. v. 26 (12) p. 644-647. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.C55 Concern for the concomitant occurrence of iron deficiency and elevated blood lead in children is raised by animal studies documenting increased gastrointestinal lead absorption in the presence of iron deficiency. To determine whether the degree of elevation in free erythrocyte protoporphyrin is useful in predicting which children with elevated blood lead levels have concomitant iron deficiency, 109 children suspected of having an elevated lead burden were studied. Neggers,-Y.H.; Stitt,-K.R. EFFECTS OF HIGH LEAD INTAKE IN CHILDREN. J-Am-Diet-Assoc. July 1986. v. 86 (7) p. 938-940. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC 389.8-AM34 Although good nutrition is not a cure for lead poisoning, an adequate diet helps prevent absorption of lead. Nutrients that are of particular importance are calcium, iron, vitamin D, zinc, protein, and fat. Sills,-M.R.; Mahaffey,-K.R.; Silbergeld,-E.K. THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO LOW DOSES OF LEAD IN CHILDHOOD. N-Engl-j-Med. February 7, 1991. v. 3224 (6) p. 416-417. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC 448.8-N442 This letter to the Editor presents data showing the change in exposure to lead from various fresh, frozen and canned foods from 1982-1983 to 1984-1985. THE POLLUTANTS THAT MATTER MOST: LEAD, RADON, NITRATE. Consum-Rep-Consum-Union-U-S. January 1990. v. 55 (1) p. 30-32. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL 321.8-C762 This article outlines the main sources and health effects of water contaminated by lead, radon, nitrate, and various organic chemicals. Suggestions are included to help consumers avoid or correct sources of exposure. Bellinger,-D.; Sloman,-J.; Leviton,-A.; Rabinowitz,-M.; Needleman,-H.L.; Waternaux,-C. LOW-LEVEL LEAD EXPOSURE AND CHINDREN'S COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS. Pediatrics. February 1991. v. 87 (2) p. 219-227. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.P42 In a cohort of 170 middle and upper-middle class children participating in a prospective study of child development and low-level lead exposure, higher blood lead levels at age 24 months were associated with lower scores at age 57 months on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE ESSENTIAL ULTRATRACE ELEMENTS / EDITED BY EARL FRIEDMAN. Reichlmayr-Lais,-A.M.; Kirchgessner,-M. Lead. New York, N.Y. : Plenum Press, 1984. p. 367-387. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL QP534.B5 A special report reviews the current status of knowledge about major aspects of the metabolism, nutritional essentiality, and toxicity of lead. LEAD IN 'NATURAL' CALCIUM PILLS STILL CAUSES CONCERN. Tufts-Univ-Diet-Nutr-Lett. November 1987. v. 5 (9) p. 2. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX341.T83 This article recommends that pregnant and lactating women and women who are considering calcium supplements for their infants and children use synthetic rather than natural calcium supplement pills. Chisolm,-J.J.-Jr. PEDIATRIC EXPOSURES TO LEAD, ARSENIC, CADMIUM, AND METHYL MERCURY. Nestle-Nutr-Workshop-Ser. 1985. v. 8 p. 229-261. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RC620.A1N47 A comprehensive technical review focuses on the pediatric aspects of overexposure to Pb, As, and methyl mercury (MeHg) in food, drinking water, ambient air, soil, and dust. Gallacher,-J.; Bignall,-J.C.; Moore,-M.R. LEAD AND IQ. Lancet. June 27, 1987. v. 1 (8548) p. 1495. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL 448.8-L22 Three letters to the editor discuss and critique the results reported in a large cross-sectional study that found that elevated blood levels of lead (Pb) were associated with deficits in intellectual performance in school children. Marler,-M.R.; Ernhart,-C.B.; Margolis,-L.H.; Bellinger,-D.; Leviton,-A.; Waternaux,-C.; Needleman,-H.L. LEAD EXPOSURE AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. New-Engl-J-Med. Oct 1, 1987. v. 317 (14) p. 895-897. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC 448.8-N442 Two letters to the editor critique and discuss the recently published works of a research group that reported lower mental development index scores for infants who had had prenatal lead (Pb) exposure and high Pb levels. Sherlock,-J.C.; Quinn,-M.J. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS AND DIETARY LEAD INTAKE IN INFANTS: THE GLASGOW DUPLICATE DIET STUDY 1979-1980. Food-Addit-Contam. Apr/June 1986. v. 3 (2) p. 167-176. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX553.A3F65 A diet study conducted in Glasgow to establish the form of the relationship between blood lead (Pb) levels and Pb levels in drinking water and in the diet of infants. Bellinger,-D.; Leviton,-A.; Waternaux,-C.; Needleman,-H.; Rabinowitz,-M. LONGITUDINAL ANALYSES OF PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL LEAD EXPOSURE AND EARLY COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. New-Engl-J-Med. Apr 23, 1987. v. 316 (17) p. 1037-1043. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC 448.8-N442 A longitudinal study evaluated the association of blood lead (Pb) levels with early cognitive development in urban children before birth (umbilical-cord blood) and from birth to 2 years of age. Landrigan,-P.J.; DiLiberti,-J.H.; Gehlbach,-S.H.; Graef,-J.W.; Hanson,-J.W.; Jackson,-R.J.; Nathenson,-G.; Greensher,-J.; Aronow,-R.; Bass,-J.L. STATEMENT ON CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING. Pediatrics. March 1987. v. 79 (3) p. 457-465. charts. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.P42 An authoritative, technical position statement of the Committees on Environmental Hazards and Accident and Poison Prevention of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the incidence, detection, and prevention of lead (Pb) poisoning in children in the US is presented. Lester,-M.L.; Horst,-R.L.; Thatcher,-R.W. PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ZINC AND CALCIUM AGAINST HEAVY METAL IMPAIRMENT OF CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE FUNCTION. Nutr-Behav. 1986. v. 3 (2) p. 145-161. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL QP141.A1N86 Status for zinc, calcium, lead, and cadmium were estimated from induction-coupled argon plasma (ICAP) spectrometer analysis of hair samples obtained from 146 children ages 5-16 years residing in rural Maryland and attending public schools. In addition, measures of cognitive function, socioeconomic status (SES), sex, race and dietary intake were collected. Schwartz,-J.; Angle,-C.; Pitcher,-H. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD BLOOD LEAD LEVELS AND STATURE. Pediatrics. March 1986. v. 77 (3) p. 281-288. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC RJ1.P42 In linear regressions of adjusted data from 2,695 children aged 7 years and younger, 91 per cent of the variance in height, 72 per cent of the variance in weight, and 58 per cent of the variance in chest circumference were explained by six variables: age, race, sex, blood lead level, total calories or protein, and hematocrit or transferrin saturation level. Watson,-W.S.; Morrison,-J.; Bethel,-M.I.F.; Baldwin,-N.M.; Lyon,-D.T.B.; Dobson,-H.; Moore,-M.R.; Hume,-R. FOOD IRON AND LEAD ABSORPTION IN HUMANS. Am-J-Clin-Nutr. August 1986. v. 44 (2) p. 248-256. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL-FNC 389.8-J824 Food iron and lead absorption were measured simultaneously in 28 subjects by extrinsically labeling three consecutive meals with the radioactive tracers, iron 59-sulfate, and lead 203-chloride. LEAD AND BEHAVIOR. Nutr-M.D.. August 1985. v. 11 (8) p. 3. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX341.N836 The potential for lead (Pb) toxicity in children, environmental sources for Pb exposure, and the effect of Pb on child behavior are briefly discussed. Yip,-Ray.; Dallman,-Peter-R. DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN ERYTHROCYTE PROTOPORPHYRIN: ROLES OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND LEAD TOXICITY. J-Pediatr. May 1984. v. 104 (5) p. 710-713. ill. NAL CALL NO.: RJ1.A453 Iron deficiency and lead toxicity both result in increased erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP). The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in EP concentration, according to age and sex, obtained in the 2nd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the United States and to determine the extent to which EP differences might be related to iron deficiency or lead toxicity. Mahaffey,-Kathryn-R. FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY (66TH : BIOAVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL AND TOXIC TRACE ELEMENTS BIOTOXICITY OF LEAD: INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS FACTORS. Fed-Proc-Fed-Am-Soc-Exp-Biol. April 1983. v. 42 (6) p. 1730-1734. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL 442.9-F31P Environmental sources of lead (Pb) are multiple, and factors influencing the toxicity of lead are discussed. Including dietary factors such as total calories, calcium, iron, zinc, fat, vitamin D, ascorbic acid, and protein. LEAD INTOXICATION IN INFANCY. Shannon, M.W.; Graef, J.W. Pediatrics. January 1992. v. 89 (1) p. 87-90. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RJ1.P42 Four years of experience in the evaluation and management of lead intoxication in the first year of life were reviewed. A LOAF OF BREAD, A JUG OF WINE...AND LEAD Tufts University Diet & Nutrition Letter. October 1991. v.9 (8) p.1 NAL CALL NO.: DNAL TX341.T83 This article briefly discusses two sources of lead contamination: the print from plastic bread packages and the foil wrappers found around the corks of wine bottles. Koo, W.W.K.; Succop, P.A.; Bornschein, R.L.; Krug-Wispe, S.K.; Steinchen, J.J.; Tsang, R.C.; Berger, O.G. SERUM VITAMIN D METABOLITES AND BONE MINERALIZATION IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC LOW TO MODERATE LEAD EXPOSURE. Pediatrics, May 1991. v. 87 (5) p. 680-687 NAL CALL NO.: DNAL RJ1.P42 One hundred five children (49 male, 99 black) with known lead exposure indices from birth and adequate nutrient intake of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D were studied at 1 of 3 ages (21,27, or 33 months) to determine the effects of chronic low to moderate lead exposure on circulating concentrations of vitamin D metabolites and bone mineral content as determined by photon absorptionmetry. Frisancho, A.R.; Ryan, A.S. DECREASED STATURE ASSOCIATED WITH MODERATE BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN. American journal of clinical nutrition. September 1991. v. 54 (3) p. 516-519. NAL CALL NO.: DNAL 389.8 J824 The relationship of blood level concentration to stature was evaluated by examining data from a sample of 1454 Mexican- American children aged 5-12 years, derived from the data sets of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) conducted in 1982-1984. Sandy Facinoli Food and Nutrition Info. Center National Agriculture Library 10301 Baltimore Blvd Room 304 Beltsville, MD 20705 301-504-5719 September 15, 1993 Document Number: 1210244 - WHO SHOULD DO LEAD TESTING? ______________________________________________________________________________ Testing to determine if lead is in paint, dust, water, and soil is best done by trained professionals. Your local public health center may be able to help you identify local lead inspection services and testing laboratories in your area. The following lead poisoning programs in Pennsylvania are additional sources of information: Allegheny (412) 823-3120, Northeast Pennsylvania, (800) 662-5220, and Harrisburg (717) 782-2884. REFERENCE: National Lead Information Center, Telephone (800) LEAD-FYI Reviewer: Cathy Faulcon Bowen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Family Public Policy and Consumer Issues Department of Agricultural and Extension Education Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences 323 Agricultural Administration Bldg., University Park, PA 16802-2601 (814) 863-7869 - Home Repairs and Renovations What You Should Know About Lead-Based Paint Any house or apartment built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. MOST homes built before 1960 contain lead-based paint. Lead-based paint produced before 1960 contains higher concentrations of lead than paint manufactured in later years. Lead-based paint can be on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, and sometimes floors. When lead-based paint on these surfaces is broken, sanded, or scraped, it breaks into tiny, sometimes invisible, pieces that your child may swallow or inhale. Even small repair and renovation jobs, including repainting projects, can create enough lead dust and chips to harm your child. BEFORE YOU REPAIR OR RENOVATE BEFORE you disturb a surface with old paint on it, you should, if possible, * Call your local health department and ask if they can test your home for lead-based paint. If the health department cannot test, ask them who can. * If lead-based paint is found in your home, have the repair or renovation done by a worker who has been trained to protect your family and home from exposure to lead dust and chips. IF YOU FIND OR SUSPECT THAT LEAD-BASED PAINT IS PRESENT You should AVOID the following activities, which can produce paint dust and chips, in areas of your home where you know or suspect there is lead-based paint: -- scraping, sanding, or using a heat gun on painted surfaces before repainting; -- making holes in walls to get at pipes or install electrical outlets; -- tearing out walls; -- repeatedly bumping furniture or other objects into painted walls; -- unnecessarily opening and closing windows with painted frames and sills. If you MUST do repairs or renovations yourself in areas where you know or suspect lead-based paint is present, you SHOULD * Move children and pregnant women to another apartment or house until work is completed and the area is properly cleaned. * Cover exposed areas. If the area is small, such as an electrical outlet, keep that area covered until repair and cleanup are completed. If the area being worked on is large, such as a wall being torn down, use plastic coverings to seal off entrances and ducts and to protect furniture, carpets, rugs, and floors from paint dust and chips. Dispose of the plastic carefully. * To keep dust down, wet painted surfaces before you work on them. * Clean up thoroughly. - Always clean up dust and chips with WET mops or rags soaked in a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) or phosphate-containing powdered dishwasher detergent and warm water. (Powdered dishwasher detergents are recommended because most have high phosphate contents. Most multipurpose household cleaners are not effective in cleaning up lead dust.) To avoid skin irritation when cleaning up with TSP or high-phosphate dishwasher detergent, wear protective gloves. - Use two buckets--one for wash water and one for rinse water. Always wring dirty water into the wash water bucket. - To prevent recontamination of cleaned surfaces, wash mops and rags thoroughly after each use. If this is not possible, or if you have already used the mops and rags several times, place them in plastic bags and dispose of them carefully. * Avoid sweeping or vacuuming the work area. Sweeping spreads lead dust around. Vacuuming also spreads lead dust around, since tiny lead particles can pass through and out of ordinary vacuum cleaners. IF REPAIRS OR RENOVATIONS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED If repairs or renovations of areas you know or suspect contain lead-based paint have already occurred or occurring in or around your home, you should be the following: * Keep children away from paint dust and chips. * Clean up all dust and chips with wet mops and rags, as described above. Pay special attention to floors and to window sills and window wells (where the bottom of the window sash rests when the window is closed). * Close your windows if work is going on outside your home that may be scattering lead dust--for example, a neighbor scraping exterior paint. Using wet mops and rags, clean up any dust that has gotten into your home. * Have your children under six years old tested for lead. To arrange for testing, call your doctor or your local health department. SOURCE: The National Lead Information Center, 1-800-LEAD-FYI Reviewer: Cathy F. Bowen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Family Public Policy and Consumer Issues Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences 323 Agricultural Administration Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 (814) 863-7869 Internet: CBOWEN@PSUPEN.PSU.EDU June 14, 1993 Document Number: 28603904 - QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK ABOUT LEAD POISONING __________________________________________ Background ---------- Q: I heard that most children have less lead in their blood now than 20 years ago. If this is so, why is childhood lead poisoning in the news now? A: The average blood-lead level of U.S. children has come down during the last 20 years, largely because of the reduction of lead levels in gasoline and food. But as blood-lead levels have come down, concern about the effects of low lead levels in children has risen. Q: Why has concern risen about low lead levels in children? A: There is new evidence that lead is harmful at blood levels once thought safe. Studies show that groups of children with higher lead levels are likely to have lower IQ scores, slower development, and more attention problems than similar children with lower lead levels. These effects are subtle and have been observed in large groups of children with lead levels at least as low as 10 micrograms per deciliter. (Micrograms per deciliter indicates the amount of lead in a deciliter of blood.) Blood Tests ----------- Q: Should I have my child's blood tested for lead? A: The only way to know for sure if your children have elevated blood-lead levels is to have them tested. The Centers for Disease Control recommend testing almost all children at 12 months of age, and, if resources allow, at 24 months. Screening should start at 6 months if the child is at risk of lead exposure (for example, if the child lives in an older home built before 1960 which has peeling or chipping paint). Decisions about further testing should be based on previous blood-lead test results and the child's risk of lead exposure. In some states, more frequent lead screening is required by law. Q: Why should I have my child screened for lead? A: Virtually all children in the United States are at risk for lead poisoning. As a result of industrialization, lead is widespread in the environment. Lead is harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of fetuses and young children. Children are more likely than adults to be exposed to lead because they have more hand-to-mouth activity than adults and because they absorb more lead than adults. Large numbers of U.S. children continue to have blood-lead levels in the toxic range. It is important for you to know if your child is one of them. Q: My child's blood-lead level is between 15 and 19 micrograms per deciliter. The doctor tells me to bring her back in a few months for another test. Isn't there anything else I could be doing? A: Your child's test showed that she had more lead in her blood than the average child in the United States. If your child's level stays in this range for several months or goes up, you should have your home inspected in order to find any sources of lead. Q: The doctor says my child's lead level is between 10 and 14 micrograms per deciliter. What does this mean? Has my child been damaged? A: Studies of the effects of lead on large groups of young children show that lead can be harmful at these blood levels. It is important to remember, however, that these effects are seen in studies of large groups of children and do not mean that every child will have the same problems. To help your child grow up healthy and smart, make sure she or he receives the proper foods, adequate shelter, and plenty of love. ### This document was prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, for distribution by the National Lead Information Center. 10/92 SOURCE: The National Lead Information Center - 1-800-LEAD-FYI (1-800-532- 3394) Reviewer: Cathy F. Bowen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Family Public Policy and Consumer Issues Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences 323 Agricultural Administration Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 (814) 863-7869 Internet: CBOWEN@PSUPEN.PSU.EDU June 14, 1993 Document Number: 28603903 - TESTING YOUR HOME FOR LEAD __________________________ WHO SHOULD DO THE TESTING? Testing to determine the presence of lead in paint, dust, water, and soil is best done by trained professionals. Contact your local public health organization for information on lead inspection services and testing laboratories in your area. Other community organizations may be able to provide information or referrals for inspection services. Some states require that lead inspectors be state-certified. If your state has this requirement, be sure to hire a state-certified inspector. TESTING FOR LEAD IN PAINT To thoroughly analyze the paint in your home, each different painted surface should be tested. Different paints may have been used on walls, window frames, doors, and so on. Paints may also differ from room to room. Each of your home's painted surfaces, both inside and outside, should be tested separately. Professional testing companies use two basic methods to measure lead in paint: * X-ray fluorescence (XRF) uses portable detectors that X-ray a painted surface to measure the amount of lead in all the layers of paint. This type of testing is done in the home and disturbs little, if any, paint. * Laboratory testing of paint samples involves removing samples of paint from each surface to be tested, usually from an area of about two square inches. Samples are sent to laboratories for analysis. This method leaves a bare spot on each surface tested. Do-it-yourself test kits are commercially available. These kits do not tell you how much lead is present, however, and their reliability at detecting low levels of lead has not been determined. Professional testing for lead in paint is recommended over the do-it-yourself test kits. TESTING FOR LEAD IN HOUSEHOLD DUST Household dust may contain tiny particles of lead released from lead-painted surfaces inside the home or tracked in with lead-contaminated soil from outside. The recommended sampling method for dust is the surface wet wipe. Dust samples are collected from different surfaces, such as bare floors, window sills, and window wells. Each sample is collected from a measured surface area using a wet wipe, which is sent to a laboratory for testing. TESTING FOR LEAD IN WATER Household drinking water may contain lead, usually from old pipes that contain lead or from lead solder in plumbing. Water samples can be collected directly from the faucet. Two samples are usually collected. One sample is taken from water that has been standing in the plumbing lines overnight or for eight hours or longer, and a second sample is taken after letting the water run for several minutes to flush the lines. The water samples are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. TESTING FOR LEAD IN SOIL Lead may be present in the soil around your home and near streets and highways close to your home. To test soil for lead, samples are taken from areas near your home where children play and from areas that contain soil likely to be tracked into your home. The soil samples are sent to laboratories for analysis. ### This document was prepared by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL, for distribution by the National Lead Information Center. 10/92 SOURCE: The National Lead Information Center, 1-800-LEAD-FYI Reviewer: Cathy F. Bowen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Family Public Policy and Consumer Issues Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences 323 Agricultural Administration Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 (814) 863-7869 Internet: CBOWEN@PSUPEN.PSU.EDU June 14, 1993 Document Number: 28603905 - #6 CONSUMER NEWS SERVICE 7/94 CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION HOME TSP PHOSPHATE FREE IS USEFUL FOR LEAD CLEANING by Jeanne Mackin Scrupulous house cleaning can mitigate some of the dangers of lead exposure, but not all cleaners are equal when it comes to effectiveness. Unfortunately, simple household detergents don't work as well as phosphate- based products which are no longer sold in New York State. TSP, trisodium polyphosphate, used in detergents to clean floors, suspends soil in solution. It is also very effective at removing lead dust in the home. But the phosphate was deemed a water pollutant, so TSP detergents are no longer available in New York State. Because regular washing of surfaces in the home helps considerably to reduce lead in the home, Elliot Schrank, home environment specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, offers an alternative to TSP detergents for cleaning: a product called TSP phosphate free (TSP-PF). "The product does not contain phosphates so the name is oxymoronic, but it has probably been used because painters are used to the name TSP," he says. TSP-PF contains a carbonate salt, an anticorrosive silicate salt, and a complexing agent called EDTA that can bind dissolved lead. Consequently, it is more effective than other household detergents for cleaning surfaces that may contain lead dust and residue. "We do not know how effective cleaners containing EDTA are compared to those with phosphates for removing lead dust," Schrank says. "But they should be better than simple detergents." He says the product is available at paint supply stores. Resource: Elliot Schrank, Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, New York State College of Human Ecology, Cornell # # # Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Provider: Ag Information Services -- News & Publications, Penn State June 28, 1994 Document Number: 28302709