Lead poisoning is a serious health problem that affects thousands of children each year.
It can be caused by eating, drinking or breathing lead containing substances. Lead is very difficult to break down and pass through the body so it tends to build over time. The most common source of lead poisonings is from paint chips in homes built before the mid 1970's. Up until then lead based paints were used. Keep children away from peeling or chipping lead paint and reachable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.