"Elevated" Lead Level in Toddler

Hi A.
How scary for you to hear this info. I worked with lead paint poisoning back in the 70's for my college clinical assignment in Social Work. Now some 35 years later I work with Nutrition and have asked people in my network to share stories with me so I can help you. Contact me and I will get stories for you to hear how people used nutrition to balance their children's bodies out.
J. H

First I wonder if the test results are accurrate. I think drawing blood is more reliable than finger prick.
I am wondering where the source of the lead poisoning is coming from?
Why hasnt your home been torn apart finding this source?
Lead poisoning is nothing to fool with...can be very dangerous.
I am appalled that your child is suffering repeated exposure and the docs seem to be only monitoring the amount of contamination.
Were it I , in this situation, I would be raising all sorts or improper hell to get this resolved.
Very best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

Hello A., I took a lead safe supervisor course this last fall and any remodeling in a home older than 1978 WILL spread lead dust and debris all over your home unless it is contained by a containment unit. little kids especially breathe in the dust easily and this elevates their levels. You need to hepa vacuum your home then wash down all surfaces then hepa vac again! This sounds extreme but it's just really coming to light how very bad lead poisoning is in children and how easily it happens.

The same thing did happen with one of my sons. Basically, the finger tests are not accurate at all. He liked to play with keys and "lock and unlock" the (metal) doors in our house so just touching these things constantly elevated the finger prick levels. He got the other (vein) test done, though, and everything was fine. *I* was totally freaking out but take a breather and just see how the other results come in before getting too concerned... I wish someone had told me that before! :)

Hi Zoey, Unfortunately I have a lot of experience with the whole lead thing. My daughter when tested at 9 months had an elevated lead level of 12, then on re test 13 and then a month later 12 again. We have a home that was completely renovated several years before our daughters birth, had everything lead tested by the city and could not find the source. We were referred to Children's Hospital's lead clinic, and learned a lot.
First off, a finger prick test is not accurate at all. The second thing is there is a lot of lab error with this, for example there is a standard deviation of +/- 3 to the test in most labs. For example one week after having a test at my pediatrician with a level of 12, my daughter was tested at Children's Hospital's lab (which is the gold standard in the city) and had a level of 8.
I am guessing your test is lab error. However if not, apparently the concentration of lead needed to cause lead poisioning (which I believe is level > 50) is the same as if you sprinkled one packet of sugar across a football field. Basically a very little bit of lead exposure can cause high levels. Lead dust is usually the culprit. Lead is in lead paint, horse hair plaster, and the morter of most older brick homes and foundations. Other sources of lead can be pewter baby cups, bracelets rattles, some toys, jewlery made in China use lead paint, cheap dish ware also usually made in China, outdoor soil, water if you have old lead pipes anywhere in the system, and some old bathtubs have been painted with lead paint.
Since our basement was the only unfinished room in our home, we were told to make sure we didn't track up dust from the basement, and to swifter the floors every day to avoid dust. We had our water tested, soil tested and everything in our house tested and never found the source of lead exposure. However we did learn that our daughter's iron stores were low (although she did not test as anemic). Apparently iron and calcium compete with the lead, and increasing these two helps to eliminate the lead exposure.
Most likely our daughters lead level was always in the normal range, and the rests were just lab error, but we did get a good education on lead.
I hope this helps, I bet your result is just lab error. The whole process is pretty stressful, but apparently in the 1970s lead was in car exhaust and the average lead levels of children then were 25+ , and we turned out alright, so don't let yourself get too crazy about the whole lead thing until you see a specialist an learn more. ---J.

my pediatrician doesn't consider 5 to be a normal level and the state is pushing to have it lowered from 10 to 5 because they are finding side effects from even that small of an amount. We recently had our apartment tested and it tested pos. all over the place even though we were told it was lead free thank god we are moving at the end of April. My pediatrician always tests w/ a vein a never a finger stick because fingers sticks aren't reliable. Is your daughter having any side effects? Speech delay, poor sleeping, motor skills delay, gassy and not eating? The worst is the lead dust you should vacuum it you should wipe it up w/ a wet cloth and use a special cleaner and if your home has lead you should stay somewhere else while the rest of the renovation is going on. I'm surprised at that high of a level that she isn't extremely sick right now. Go to mass.gov and check out the lead poisoning prevention it will give you lots of info about how to prevent it including washing their hand right before they eat to get any dust they might have on them off.

We had a false high level result when my first born was young. It scared the h*ll out of us!! But they retested- not a fun time, it was a full blood draw- and it came back normal. I guess it happens every once in a while. Hopefully this is what has happened with your daughter's results.
They do have a treatment for high lead levels. I understand it is something they do in the hospital? This was 5 years ago- so things may have changed now.
Hopefully it's just a false alarm.
Good luck,
S.

My daughter had a low but higher than they like to see level about a year ago. We haven't had her tested again yet.
Although I did have a friend whose daughter tested very high as well. They had the state come in and test thier home. They needed to repaint the walls and replace the carpet.
The funny thing is not long after this they bought a house and did the same just incase. So I would see what the Dr has to say.I hear they have to referr the state people to any circumstance of high levels of lead. If they do that person will come in and test your home. If it is the problem they wil help you in knowing what needs to be done.
Think back to us as kids, we didn't have these tests and we all turned out fine and it was all lead. So I wouldn't be too freaked out yet. I know the waiting is torture!

While this hasn't happened with my child, I can tell you lead has been found in places I would never have expected! I had to throw out about 1/3 of my toddler's toys because they popped up on the recalls lists. Even some Boppy slipcovers had elevated lead levels! So, if you have renovations going on, if she chews on toys or crib railings, ingests certain bath products, and wears clothes with decorations, she is at risk. Look at this website(http://www.cpsc.gov/index.html
for the up to date recall listings!
Best of Luck to you and your Little one!

I really hope that it's just a false alarm. But just in case...

The word that jumped out at me was "renovating". Dust from sanding, scraping, etc. is one of the most common causes of lead poisoning. Was your house built before 1978? If so, it's recommended that you move out during any renovation. If you are still in the process and can't move, tape up sheets over anything that is being worked on.

There is a well written, 10-page document published by the State on lead paint. I'd be happy to send it to you if you don't have a copy. It explains the symptoms, dangers, and treatment of lead paint poisoning, and answers a lot of common questions, like what causes it (home repairs, contaminated soil,etc.) It also gives advice on deleading a home and interim control.

Good luck to you and your little one.

D.

Hi A.,

First of all, don't panic that is why we test babies and toddlers. Especially in the Northeast where many homes are older, it is not unusual to have lead paint. During renovating lead paint dust can be exposed and toddlers and babies can pick it up on their fingers, toys, etc. and as we know everything goes into their mouths. Your baby doesn't have to chew on the window sill to ingest lead.

You are doing the right thing rechecking with venipuncture. Remember this is a screening tool and treatment is available if your doctor feels it is necessary. Most importantly if your daughter's lead level is elevated, you must research all possible causes of exposure and ensure they are removed. If necessary relocate your daughter until you are sure her environment is safe.

Best Wishes
J. L.

Do you have an herbalist in your area? There are a couple of herbs that will help flush heavy metals from the body. Not sure what the allopathic doctors recommend.
Good luck!

I believe you can buy lead testing strips at Home Depot- My friend had this happen with her daughter and it turned out that their bathtub (old clawfoot tub) was MADE of lead. She said the test strip turned red as soon as she applied it. If there is lead in your home you want to find out about it asap. Good luck!