Statement on Childhood Lead Poisoning

Lead remains a significant hazard to the health of American children.’3 Virtually all children in the United States are exposed to lead that has been dispersed in air, dust, and soil by the combustion of leaded gasoline. Several hundred thousand children, most of them living in older houses, are at risk of ingesting lead-based paint as well as leadbearing soil and house dust contaminated by the deterioration of lead-based paint. Although the incidence of symptomatic lead poisoning and of leadrelated mortality has declined dramatically,4 data from targeted screening programs’ and from a national survey2 show that there are many asymptomatic children with increased absorption of lead in all regions of the United States. It is particularly prevalent in areas of urban poverty. 0 Childhood lead poisoning can readily be detected