Lead poisoning can cause growth, behavior and learning problems in children.
Children can easily be poisoned by dust or chips from lead paint. The recommendations are designed to identify children at risk so steps can be taken to reduce the hazards in their homes and prevent serious health problems. According to Henry Anderson, M.D., State Environmental Epidemiologist, health care providers should ask parents of one and two year old children four questions to identify whether the children live in or visit older homes which may have lead paint or are eligible for federal health benefits which require children be tested for lead. A positive response to any of the questions would identify the need to give the child a blood test for lead. If children play near windows or other places with worn out or damaged lead paint, they can get dust on their fingers and toys.