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Lead's Toxic Legacy

It’s no secret that exposure to lead is dangerous, especially for kids. But even though this is one of the most-studied toxicants, researchers are still learning more about how – and when – it causes the most harm.

The most recent news about lead is that it can be particularly dangerous to children in utero, and most dangerous during the first trimester of pregnancy. Scientists at Harvard have shown the impact of lead upon the developing nervous system of a baby ebbs and flows during pregnancy, damaging the portion of a baby’s brain that ultimately grows to control executive function (the ability to learn and organize).

Lead is transferred to the developing fetus not only from the mother’s current exposures but also from past lead exposures. It is stored in the mother’s bones, which dissolve during pregnancy to meet the baby’s growing demands for calcium. Preliminary research suggests this impact may be reduced if pregnant women take calcium supplements at bedtime, though more research needs to be done to confirm that.

Though lead was banned from gasoline in this country in the 1980s, children continue to be exposed to it through paint chips and dust in older homes. It was not banned from house paint until 1978. In homes built before 1940, the chances of lead paint hazards are as high as 68 percent.

Lead is also found in toys and trinkets manufactured abroad and sold in the United States. It is even found in the wrappers of some candies made outside the United States and sold here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is examining the issue of lead exposure for pregnant women and may soon issue recommendations. Clearly, the problem is far from being solved.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org