New health studies show that lead poisoning is surprisingly common among children in New Jersey.
Over the last 15 years, close to a quarter of a million children under 17 in New Jersey may have become victims of lead poisoning, according to a recent investigation by the Asbury Park Press. In our home state—as many as 245,000 of them—were exposed to extremely high levels of lead between 2000 and 2014, the paper learned after analyzing government records.
The most common source of lead poisoning in New Jersey seems to be house paint from before 1978 (and the paint chips that peel off the walls), as well as in certain types of rental homes, the analysis found.
Other items, like toys and furniture painted before 1976, painted toys and decorations made in some foreign countries, plumbing and pipes, some art supplies and paint sets, storage batteries, and other materials used to make everything from jewelry and makeup to dinnerware were also implicated. Kids typically get lead poisoning by putting the items in their mouths, eating chipped lead paint from the items, or by touching the objects and then putting their hands in their mouths.
Symptoms of lead poisoning can be hard to spot in the early stages of contamination, as they typically take months and even years to emerge. They can include abdominal pain and cramping, sleep problems, headaches, irritability, unusually aggressive behavior, loss of appetite and memory, anemia, fatigue and a host of others. Ingesting lead once generally won’t lead to poisoning, which normally occurs as the lead builds up in the body over time.
A highly toxic dose of lead, however, is a medical emergency; signs include vomiting, coma, seizures and confusion.
Kids who've had mild exposure to lead (between 5 and 9 micrograms in their bloodstream or in their system) are at a higher risk for learning disabilities, speech problems, hearing loss, decreased IQ and aggressive behavior, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Exposures greater than 10 micrograms can lead to developmental disabilities and reduced motor control and can even be life threatening. Currently, New Jersey has not adopted the CDC’s "reference level” of 5 micrograms as a problematic level of lead poisoning, but the state is required to take on case management and environmental investigations if kids are found to have 10 micrograms or more of lead in their bloodstreams.
This month New Jersey State Senate voted in favor of a bill that would introduce $10 million to the budget of the lead poisoning prevention fund. The money may go towards enforcing a failed 2008 law, which would standardize and guarantee inspections of older houses that could be sources of lead poisoning.
If you are concerned, or think your children may have symptoms of lead poisoning, talk to their doctor to rule out any other underlying causes. The New Jersey Early Intervention System (http://nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/index.shtml) and the Child Lead Poisoning Program are both good resources.
Below is a complete list of Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Offices in New Jersey:
Northern Regional CLPP Coalition
Coordinating Agency: Partnership for MCH of Northern NJ.
973-268-2280
Service Areas: Bergen, Passaic, Union, Essex (excluding City of Newark), Hudson, Sussex, Warren, and Morris
Central Regional CLPP Coalition
Coordinating Agencies: Monmouth County Health Department
732-431-7456
Service Areas: Monmouth, Ocean, Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, and Middlesex
Southern Regional CLPP Coalition
Coordinating Agency: Southern NJ Perinatal Consortium
856-665-6000
Service Areas: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem
Newark Partnership for Lead-Safe Children
Coordinating Agency: Newark Department of Child and Family Well Being
973-622-0913
Service Area: City of Newark
