You are putting your child’s health in jeopardy by allowing him to play with toys that are coated with lead-based paints. The following AptParenting article discusses the health hazards of toys containing high levels of lead.
Did You Know?
Use of lead-based paints in toys and for residential purposes, has been outlawed in the United States way back in 1978.
The habit of chewing toys is commonly observed in infants who are teething. This is but natural, because as teeth begin to grow, infants get the urge to chew something, whatever they can lay their hands on. In such circumstances, allowing the infant to play with toys that contain lead-based paints, can be a cause for concern. Repeatedly chewing the toy may expose him to high levels of lead. Be it the superhero figures, car models, or building blocks, the generous use of lead-based paints in these toys can be fatal for kids.
Toys that are coated with lead are no longer manufactured in the United States. However, imported toys may contain lead-based paints. In fact, majority of the toys available in the United States are imported. This makes it necessary to test for lead contamination in toys that come from far-flung places.
Although lead is present in blood, even a small increase in the concentration can be toxic. Lead levels in blood may go up, if an infant continuously chews on a toy coated with a lead-based paint. Simply put, babies biting or sucking toys coated with lead paint are at a great health risk.
Dangers of Lead Exposure
As aforementioned, repeated lead exposure is bound to make children vulnerable to a wide range of health problems. Those are discussed below:
Kidney Damage
Overexposure to lead can eventually lead to poor kidney function. Children exposed to high levels of lead may suffer from nephropathy, a condition that typically causes kidney diseases. Advanced kidney diseases have been observed in people who were chronically exposed to lead during childhood. Decrease in production of urine is often an indication of damage to kidneys.
Learning Difficulties
Learning disabilities is yet another adverse side effect of frequently chewing toys containing lead-based paints. According to the EPA, repeated exposure to even low levels of lead paint may subsequently lead to low IQ and learning disabilities in children. Educational proficiency may drastically diminish in children affected by lead poisoning.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Short attention span, one of the primary symptoms of ADD, can also affect children who are exposed to high levels of lead. Children with ADD are predominantly inattentive, suffer from poor concentration, and tend to be hyperactive.
Poor Muscle Coordination
Impaired muscle coordination is also one of the dangers of prolonged exposure to lead-based paints in toys. Lack of muscle coordination suggests that high blood lead levels have affected the nervous system, and have caused nerve damage.
Behavioral Problems
Sociopathic behavior may also be observed in children playing (or rather mouthing) with lead-based paint in toys. Behavioral problems such as excessive aggression is one of the symptoms of lead poisoning.
Hearing Problems
Children who repeatedly chew toys that have a surface coating of lead, are likely to have difficulty in hearing.
Seizures
Chronic lead exposure can eventually trigger seizures in children. When lead content in blood is extremely high, it can lead to impaired functioning of the brain, which may lead to seizures and unconsciousness.
Initially, the symptoms that are observed, make it difficult to recognize lead poisoning. This is because, these symptoms are very similar to many other diseases. Hence, diagnostic confusion always exists. The initial symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Loss of Appetite
- Weight loss
Diagnosis Through Blood Test
Generally, symptoms of lead poisoning are noticed when the level of lead in the blood has increased substantially. A blood test can help to measure the amount of lead present in blood, thereby allowing to check blood lead levels. This way, one can detect lead poisoning early, and avail the necessary treatment before it turns fatal. So, as parents, ensure that your children’s routine health checkups include a blood test as well.
Preventing Lead Exposure in Children
Eliminating all sources of lead from a child’s environment is necessary to prevent any sort of health hazard. Toys coated with lead-based paints should be immediately discarded. As plastic objects are often chewed by infants, one should ensure that these objects are not painted with a lead-based paint. There have been cases of lead poisoning in infants due to chewing of baby monitors. So, anything that is in proximity of the child should be free from lead-based paints.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
