Lead poisoning is still a big problem in the United States. Particularly prone to lead poisoning are young children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 900,000 children have elevated levels of lead in their blood in the United States. While this figure appears to represent a marked decrease from national studies taken 15 years ago, it is clear that further protective action is necessary to protect our children. Lead poisoning is associated with a variety of serious illnesses.
Many experts associate lead poisoning with brain damage.
Children with learning disabilities in certain cases may suffer from lead poisoning. One of the biggest culprits appears to be old, lead paint. Many older homes were painted with lead paint, both inside and outside. Smaller children have been known to bite the paint and become infected. Flaking and chipping paint and contaminated soils, such as those near highways and incinerators, are other lead sources.