The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports they have linked several cases of child lead poisonings to a parent’s exposure to the heavy metal at work. State health officials says lead dust for the workplace can be easily transported on clothing or skin and transferred to a toddler’s hands and month where it is then ingested. This dust can also be inhaled by children while in close contact with their parent. Ingesting lead is harmful to humans, particularly children, and can lead to brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems and communication difficulties. The department is encouraging medical providers to consider take-home lead as a possible source for lead poisoning. Infants and toddlers with the potential for this type of exposure may benefit from additional testing beyond the routine examinations at 12 and 24 months. For more information on lead poisoning, follow the links included with this story on our website.
______
CDC–Children’s Exposure to Lead
