It doesn't matter where you live. If you're rich or poor, young or old, or any color under the rainbow, you can get lead poisoned. Small children are the most easily poisoned because very small amounts of lead can poison them. Children are still growing and their bodies keep more lead in them than adults. This lead harms children's brain development and growth.
Children spend most of their time close to the floor and put everything in their mouths.
A few tiny grains of lead can be enough to poison a child. Everyone, but especially a child under the age of seven, is at risk. Lead the size of three grains of sugar eaten over a period of time can poison a child. It is estimated that the average US house with lead paint has about 100 pounds of lead. In children, lead can slow growth, harm their developing brain, damage the kidneys and liver, and decrease hearing.