Call to Action- Lead Poisoning
Module 5 Blog Post
Part 1
Hello everyone, I appreciate you reading and following this blog so that I can keep you updated on lead poisoning and the serious effects it has on our children. In the US, 1.2 million children are lead poisoned. Only 50% are being treated (CDC, 2019). Many of the environmental concerns we currently face appear unsolvable. However, taking small steps in the right direction can help us keep up the fight against lead poisoning.
Thousands of children are exposed to lead every year at levels that are now linked to deleterious effects, such as decreased academic and life accomplishment, despite the general reduction in BLLs. Despite having substantial consequences and being a cause for concern, lead poisoning is essential because it is avoidable. Removing the patient from the exposure source is the most crucial initial step in the management of lead poisoning. Parents should be given advice on both intervention and healthy eating. In order to limit the gastrointestinal absorption of ingested lead, nutritional therapies include iron and calcium supplementation, a low-fat diet, and frequent meals.
There are numerous ways to lower lead exposure. For the majority of lead-containing products, safer alternatives exist. There are ways to lessen industrial emissions, regulate workplace exposures, and safely rehabilitate homes that have been tainted with lead paint and lead-based dust. Numerous homes and other structures have lead dangers as a result of the widespread historical and modern use of lead compounds as paint additives. Prior to children being exposed, it is critical to detect domestic lead dangers and take action to prevent exposures. The elimination of the pandemic of lead poisoning has been supported by numerous organizations and institutions.
The limit at which efforts should be made to reduce childhood lead exposure has been lowered by the U.S. CDC from 10 g/dL (100 g/L) to 5 g/dL (50 g/L) (CDC, 2019). The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both emphasize that preventing, managing, and eradicating lead exposures is the best method to stop childhood lead poisoning. The most effective and dependable method of protecting kids from lead toxicity is moving away from treating symptomatic children and toward a primary preventive strategy that targets high-risk neighborhoods. In order to reduce further exposure to lead, it is essential that those responsible for residential abatement, or the removal, enclosure, or encapsulation of lead-based paint or lead contaminated dust or soil, receive the necessary training. Pregnant women, young children, and infants should also be kept out of the home environment while remediation and renovations are being done (EPA, 2021).
A significant but avoidable health risk is lead poisoning. Because lead poisoning symptoms are varied and non-specific, it can be challenging to identify; for this reason, prompt identification and treatment of the condition are crucial. The peculiar signs of the illness should be known to both general and oral doctors. The best strategy is to limit any exposure to lead. We the People have the ability to influence institutions like the Supreme Court and exert pressure. Being loud and taking conscientious individual action can both contribute to clean the lead polluted environment. Last but not least, remember to support regional and local nonprofits like City Square, which works to protect children's health.This can be accomplished by locating the environmental sources of lead and sustaining ongoing public health programs to remove lead from the environment.
Part 2
Please make sure to watch my video below to conclude this topic by encouraging you to take action.
Discussion Prompt: How can we control naturally occurring lead metals from being lead poisoning?
References:
1 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,2019). Cited from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/default.htm
2. United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA, 2021) Cited from https://www.epa.gov/lead
3. American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health. Prevention of childhood lead toxicity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1493. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
ReplyDeleteHello, Anil
I’m glad I have never experienced lead posion or anyone around me has either. In the hopes of the future, when I do purchase a home. I know I’ll be cautious of the paint additives and make sure that they do not contain lead. That would not be great for the health when breathing it in all day. There was a show I watch, where when they were searching for cargo, there was a box full of toes. They had a device where it showed if there was any lead in it and it showed positive. It’s sad to see that toys like that are distributed to kids and they would just inhale/be around it and get sick from it. Fortunately, they were able to catch it and dispose of the cargo box. Not every cargo box gets searched so some do make it out to children around the world. I think they do it because of how cheap the certain product they use that contains lead. I would of like to see the video of your presentation to further my education on lead poison. Thanks again for your post as it has been really informative.
Hello Linda! Thank you so much for stopping by and reviewing my journals. It has been good weeks to know about lead poisoning. I think I might have consumed lead in my childhood to as I grew in old neighborhood. But there are ways to lower this kind of ratio. We should work hard on to this issue. There are ways to lessen industrial emissions, regulate workplace exposures, and safely rehabilitate homes that have been tainted with lead paint and lead-based dust. Numerous homes and other structures have lead dangers as a result of the widespread historical and modern use of lead compounds as paint additives.
DeleteHello, Anil
ReplyDeleteGreat topic and interesting post. These days. There is increasing incidence of learning diffculties among children that raise a concern as a public health issue. If children are exposed to lead, their BLLs tend to increase during ages 0--2 years and peak at ages 18--24 months. Therefore, screening is recommended at both ages 1 and 2 years to identify children who need medical management and environmental and public health case management. Because recent epidemiologic data have shown that lead exposure is still common in certain communities in theUnited States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued new guidelines endorsing universal screening in areas with 27% of housing built before 1950
Hello Dina, yes I agree with you. Screening is the best way to control lead poisoning on time. It should be free for all kids. Thousands of children are exposed to lead every year at levels that are now linked to deleterious effects, such as decreased academic and life accomplishment, despite the general reduction in BLLs. Despite having substantial consequences and being a cause for concern, lead poisoning is essential because it is avoidable. Removing the patient from the exposure source is the most crucial initial step in the management of lead poisoning. Parents should be given advice on both intervention and healthy eating as well.
DeleteHello Anil, thank you for providing valuable insights on this health issue. It is unfortunately an issue that went on for a long period and there continues to be incidences of exposure. We can prevent exposure by ensuring that any property purchased is inspected thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteIt is my pleasure to have you here and provide me some guidance. I appreciate that and yes everyone should do that before purchase of any property.
DeleteHi Anil, this was an interesting read. The amount of children that are affected by this is tremendous. Children who are really young are exposed to lead every single day. This can lead to the children having problems that can be long term and get worse over time. Screenings will be the best prevention method and can help children in the long run. It can also establish a safe environment for the children.
ReplyDeleteHey Bre'Anna, I hope public health students like us can grab more opportunities to work in the field like this rather than working in hospitals. I totally agree with your views and good luck ahead.
DeleteHello Anil,
ReplyDeleteGreat presentation. The best way to protect yourself and your family from lead is washing you hands often, washing children's toys, and washing walls and windowsills. If an individual is exposed to lead through their work or hobbies the CDC recommends taking off their shoes, clothes, and showering as soon as possible. Another way to protect yourself from lead is look into which foods may contain high levels of lead such as candy from Mexico that contains tamarind.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/safe.html#:~:text=Eat%20and%2For%20drink%20in,enough%20to%20remove%20lead%20residues.&text=NIOSH%20researchers%20have%20developed%20wipes,of%20lead%20residues%20from%20skin.