News Coverage
More children being tested for lead
Published July 20, 2004
The Marietta City Health Department is reporting an increase in the number of young children being tested for high lead levels thanks to greater public awareness of the dangers of lead and the new law about testing. The department tested about 63 area children in a 12-month period in 2003 to 2004. The number tested is 22 more than tested for lead in a 12-month period in 2002 to 2003.
Vicki Kelly, director of nursing for the Marietta Health Department, said more children are being tested because people are taking advantage of the department's programs.
"We do it (testing) when they come in for the well-child baby visits," Kelly said. "I think people know to be tested."
The lead screenings and well-child baby visits are both offered the first Thursday of every month at the city health department. Kelly said many doctors are also conducting lead screenings.
"More and more doctors are doing it, and people are getting educated through the media," Kelly said.
The state is holding its annual Lead Awareness Week, which runs through July 26.
While many 1-year-old children are getting the screenings, it is the 2 year-old children who seem to be lagging on the screenings. Kelly said she estimated nearly 30 percent of 2-year-old area children who needed lead tests were not receiving them.
The increase in testing may also be attributed to new laws that went into effect in April to enforce lead screenings for all 1- and 2-year-old children, not just those receiving medical card services.
In a study released in May by the Environmental Working Group, the Marietta area zip code was identified as an at-risk area for high lead levels in children. The reasons include Marietta's many older homes, many of which still have lead paint in them. Lead paint is no longer used in homes, but it was common decades ago.
Kelly said older children may also be at risk for lead poisoning.
"It's a constant focus until they're over 6," Kelly said, "when their brains are developing."
The symptoms of lead poisoning have a wide range and may not easily be spotted by parents.
"It can lower IQs, cause learning problems and hearing and speech problems," Kelly said. "They may be smaller in stature than other kids."
Kelly also said there are other things that could cause the same problems in children.
One Marietta family has had three of its four children suffer from lead poisoning. The boys were tested for elevated lead levels when they were very young.
Patricia Morris, 34, of 147 Franklin St., has worked with the local health department for seven years to remove lead from her house, built in the early 1900s, and worked to lower her children's lead levels. Morris' children from 9 to 2 1/2 years old have all suffered from dangerously high levels of lead.
For children, a safe level of lead is from one to nine. Any rating above nine indicates a high exposure to lead. Hunter, Morris' youngest child, had a rating of 19 when he was tested after his first birthday. The boy now has a safe level at eight.
Adults have a much higher tolerance for lead and are not at risk for lead poisoning until they rate a 40 on the lead test. Both adults and children are advised to change their diet and avoid being around lead to lower their levels.
Kelly said lead levels can be reduced by a change in diet - eating foods high in calcium and iron. The nutrients are replaced by lead when it gets into the system. Foods recommended to decrease levels include milk, beef an fresh green vegetables. Kelly also said cutting back on the amount of fat children eat can also protect them from lead poisoning because fatty foods will help lead be absorbed into the system more quickly.
With a good diet and limited exposure to lead, a child's level will reduce gradually.
"If you get it away from them," said Kelly, "it eventually filters out through their kidneys."
Morris found out how her children were poisoned after Kelly brought a home inspector to check lead levels throughout the house.
Morris said the home inspector told her the children received most of their exposure to lead through the cracked and chipped paint inside the house. The cracked paint allowed lead dust to escape and get onto the floor where her children played.
"We painted over everything because we found out it had lead on it," said Morris. "We're currently working on Adam and Coulton's room."
Morris and her husband have torn down walls and painted and wallpapered several rooms in the house to prevent their children from being exposed to lead dust.
Morris said she still does a lot of preventative cleaning to protect her children.
"I wash toys, I still sweep and mop," said Morris. "What people do one time a year for spring cleaning, I do all the time."
People planning to purchase homes have also shown increased awareness of lead.
Patti Finkel, office manager for 1st City Real Estate, said she's gotten a lot of requests for information about lead in homes.
"I've had a lot of questions about it," Finkel said. "I'll either refer them or call the home inspector myself."
Finkel said most of the questions are from people who have or are planning on having children.
Lead screening
1- and 2-year-old children tested for lead at the Marietta City Health Department:
2003-04 approximately 63 children screened.
2002-03 approximately 41 children screened.
2001-02 approximately 46 children screened.
2000-01 approximately 57 children screened.
For more information: Vicki Kelly, 373-0611, Ext. 108.