And Angie’s List says it’s really important if you have small children to be very careful when you’re remodeling because you do not want to end up with lead paint poisoning – especially for children under 6 years old.
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On Monday, the Hogan administration announced a new rule in which all one and two year old Maryland children will be required to undergo testing for lead poisoning.
Children can be exposed to lead through lead-based paint, lead- contaminated dust and soil and through certain imported ceramic pottery, painted objects and imported candy and food products.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 4 million households in the US have children living in them at risk of exposure to toxic lead. The long-term effects of lead exposure to a child can be severe and may include learning disabilities, decreased growth, behavior problems, impaired hearing, and even brain damage. Renovations, repairs and painting projects can easily create risky lead dust.
Most children who have lead poisoning don’t look or act sick and symptoms can be confused with common childhood complaints such as stomach aches, headaches, crankiness or loss of appetite, according to CDPH. However, lead poisoning is easily diagnosed with simple testing, and in most cases, it can be treated.
“We are making progress but have much more to do to win the battle against childhood lead poisoning in Maryland”, said Department of Environment Secretary Benjamin Grumbles, whose department houses the Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
McKone says the City of Duluth has a grant from the Housing Urban Development to provide free lead testing and offer grants to help with expenses related to reducing lead exposure.
If anyone has a home built pre-1978, they should not try to remove the paint themselves and instead contact the Duluth Housing Authority for more details on how to remediate.
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Health agencies are urging parents to know that information.
