Lurking Lead: Lead poisoning more common than you think

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Lead poisoning is more common than most people realize.

According to the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital, one in 40 children have blood lead levels that are considered unsafe.

Lead poisoning can cause lifelong problems, including lower IQs and behavioral problems.

If you’re a parent, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled across Tamara Rubin’s research on social media.

She runs the “Lead Safe Mama” website , and over the past nearly 20 years she has become known as an international expert on lead poisoning.

But only after her family’s lives were forever changed by lurking lead.

“My son was acutely poisoned in 2005,” Rubin told 2 NEWS. “And after the first two years of shock and trauma, which I think, you know, most families go through after their kid has been poisoned.”

While her family is still dealing with the effects of her son’s lead poisoning two decades later, she’s thrown herself into her work.

Her main goal is to educate other parents.

“We’re seeing cases of lead exposure from consumer goods and from food sources,” Rubin said. “So really, there is no isolating factor. Every kid could be impacted and every good kid should be tested.”

She says that there’s a myth that because lead paint is no longer widely used in homes, kids are safe.

That’s far from the case.

Lead paint is still one concern: Even when it’s covered by layers of newer paint, the layers can easily chip.

Also, dust from contact surfaces like doors and windows can contaminate an entire house.

Home renovations without proper lead abatement are another common source.

But paint isn’t the only culprit.

On her website, leadsafemama.com , there are more than 500 pages of consumer products that have tested positive for lead.

Rubin suggests starting with your kitchen.

“Make sure you don’t have food touching lead-contaminated surfaces,” Rubin said. “So you want to make sure you don’t have lead-contaminated dishes.”

Vintage toys are another big culprit.

“I’ve found lots of toys from the ’80s and ’90s that are positive for high levels of lead and arsenic,” Rubin said. “It’s not necessarily the inexpensive ones. It can be the expensive ones.”

Tamara says there is likely lead lurking in every American home.

“It’s the rest of your life that you’re going to have to deal with the outcome of your child’s lead exposure,” Rubin said. “Every single day. Kids are still being acutely poisoned. Young parents aren’t getting this information in a comprehensive way where they understand that this is their problem and they need to take action.”

Coming up Tuesday on “2 NEWS at 6,” we’ll introduce you to one southwest Ohio mom whose home purchase led to her young daughter being poisoned by lead.

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