According to Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and a First 5 LA commissioner, 671 children in the county had seriously elevated blood-lead levels in 2009. "Lead can seriously affect a child's brain and nervous system and may cause learning and behavioral problems," he added.

In Los Angeles County, the main cause of lead poisoning in children is exposure to peeling lead-based paint, commonly found in houses, apartments and buildings built before 1978. The dust from the deteriorating paint floats through the air, and can settle on toys, furniture and floors. When children ingest the dust or the paint chips, their blood becomes poisoned.

Other lead sources include:

• Ground soil contaminated by lead paint, lead dust or leaded gasoline

• Lead dust that comes into the home on work clothes or shoes

• Folk or traditional remedies, such as Azarcon and Greta, used in some Hispanic cultures to treat gastrointestinal illness

• Imported goods including toys, candy, ceramics and children's jewelry

• Hobby items that use lead, like soldering, stained glass, bullets or fishing sinkers

"If you have children and are concerned that your home may have lead-based paint or other sources of lead exposure, get the facts," Dr. Fielding says. Anyone concerned about their children's exposure to lead should ask the child's doctor about lead testing.

For more information or referrals to certified lead inspectors and free or low-cost health services, contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Hotline at 800-LA-4-LEAD or visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/lead.

Evelyn V. Martinez

Chief Executive Officer
First 5 LA

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