Prevent Children’s Exposure to Lead
Lead poisoning can be prevented. The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead. If children are lead poisoned they must be treated. Learn how to prevent children’s exposure to lead.

There are many ways you can reduce children's exposure to lead before they are harmed. Lead hazards in a child's environment must be identified and controlled or removed safely. Lead is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell.

Sources of Lead
A child's environment is full of lead. Children are exposed to lead from different sources (such as paint, gasoline, solder, and consumer products) and through different pathways (such as air, food, water, dust, and soil). Although there are several exposure sources, lead-based paint is the most widespread and dangerous high-dose source of lead exposure for young children.

Get Treatment if You Think Your Child Has Been in Contact with Lead
If you think your child has been in contact with lead, contact your child's health care provider. He or she can help you decide whether to test your child's blood to see if it has high levels of lead.

A blood lead test is the only way to find out if your child has a high lead level. Most children with high levels of lead in their blood have no symptoms.

Your child's health care provider can recommend treatment if your child has been exposed to lead.