Elevated levels of lead in the blood can cause serious problems for children. Lead that gets into the bloodstream through swallowing or inhaling can damage the nervous system, brain, red blood cells and digestive system.
Lead poisoning can lead to mental impairment, especially when it occurs in young children.
Lead poisoning is so serious that, at one point, it was recommended that all children be screened with blood tests. But recent studies show that only children who are at high risk for lead poisoning need to be tested for elevated lead levels. Children who live in inner cities are most at risk for lead poisoning. Children who live in houses built before 1950 also need to be checked, as do children who have had lead poisoning in the past. The most common way for children to get lead into their systems is by eating chips of lead-based paint.