December 2023Childhood Lead Exposure: The Evolving Landscape
By Teresa Frankovich, M.D, Associate Medical Director
Recent headlines about high lead levels found in fruit pouches consumed by young children, highlight the fact that lead exposure is not a thing of the past, but an important part of our present. Exposure to this metal can cause a wide range of health problems, including irreversible brain damage, particularly in young, developing brains. There is no known “safe” level of lead exposure.
In your practice, you have likely spoken with parents about lead exposure occurring in older (pre-1978) homes, due to lead-based paints that were once widely used. Of course, lead may be found in soil, particularly around older homes and industrial sites and in water that flows through older pipes containing lead. Until relatively recently, parents were advised primarily about these sources of exposure. But lead is also being found in other, unexpected places, necessitating a change in what we communicate to parents about exposure risks. Read More.
