And yet, it is entirely preventable. During the past ten years, over 2500 Minneapolis children under the age of six have been diagnosed with high levels of lead in their blood. If left untreated, the health of these children may suffer, as well as their ability to learn. In fact, many children who have lead poisoning find it difficult to succeed in school. And, since many lead-poisoned children have no symptoms, and are never tested, many may be sick without even knowing it.
Many people think lead poisoning is an inner-city neighborhood problem.
While it's true that many cases of lead poisoning occur in areas with older, deteriorated housing, it is important to know that even well-kept homes in all areas of the city can pose a lead threat to children under the age of six. With more and more families renovating and rehabilitating older homes these days, the risk to children increases as lead dust and lead chips are created. Lead is highly toxic and can harm almost all systems in the body. When a person, especially a child, swallows or breathes in lead, their body can be harmed. While anyone who swallows lead can get ill, infants and children under six years of age are most affected by even small amounts of lead.