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1. Why is lead dangerous?

• Lead can harm a child's brain. Lead poisoning can make it hard for a child to learn, pay attention, and behave.
• If you are pregnant, lead can hurt your baby. Ask your doctor about a lead test.

2. How does lead enter a child's body?

• Children under 6 exhibit a lot of hand-to-mouth contact.
• Children put an item in their mouth that contains lead or has lead dust on it, such as hands, toys, or food.
• Children can breathe in lead dust.

3. When should your child have a lead test?

• Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick.
• The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is for your child to get a blood test.
• Children in California on publicly funded programs such as CHDP, Medi-Cal and WIC are tested for lead at 12 and 24 months of age. Some children over age 2 also need to get tested.

4. Where can lead be found?

• Lead is in paint and dust inside and outside of homes and buildings built before 1978.
• Lead is in pots and dishes that are old, handmade or made outside of the U.S.
• Lead is in many workplaces-places where people work with radiators, and batteries or do soldering or welding. Places built before 1978 are being painted to remodeled.
• Products that you purchase or bring home, home remedies, make-up, some imported candies, toys, and jewelry.
• Hobbies such as fishing, bullet reloading and stained glass.

5. How to protect your child from lead?

• Hand washing often- before eating, after play, before nap and at bedtime
• House cleaning- wet mop floors, wet wipe windowsills, vacuum, wash toys and blankets
• Do not let children chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips
• Make sure cribs, playpens, beds, and high chairs are away from damaged paint
• Do not use imported, older, or handmade dishes or pots for food or drink unless tested and they do not contain lead
• Be sure that products you bring home do not have lead in them
• Cover bare dirt outside the home with plants, concrete, bark, or gravel
• Don't bring lead dust home from work or a hobby
• Take off shoes or wipe them on a doormat before going inside
• Never sand, dry scrape, power wash, or sandblast paint
• Feed your child healthy foods and snacks

6. How can a healthy diet help your child from lead?

• Provide regular meals and snacks. A poor diet or an empty stomach can encourage the absorption of lead.
• Vitamin C-rich foods - oranges, tomatoes, limes, bell peppers, berries, papaya, jicama, or broccoli
• Iron-rich foods - beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, cooked dried beans, fortified cereals, tofu, collards, kale, and mustard greens
• Calcium-rich foods - low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified juices and cereals, and dark leafy greens
• Visit the following brochures for additional information on protecting your children from Lead:
• Protect your child from LEAD
  • English (PDF)
  • Spanish (PDF)
• Keep your newborn safe from LEAD
  • English (PDF)
  • Spanish (PDF)