What are the risks of lead exposure during pregnancy?

- lead is a metal that was found for many years in gasoline and house paint
- although lead is still present in the environment, the amounts have decreased greatly since the 1970s when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned its use in these products.

- lead poses health risks for everyone, but young children and unborn babies are at greatest risk.
- exposure to high levels of lead during pregnancy contributes to miscarriage, preterm birth, low birthweight and developmental delays in the infant
- children exposed to high levels of lead after birth may develop behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth and hearing loss

- women who live in older homes may be exposed to lead in deteriorating lead-based paint
- many homes built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint
- as long as paint is not crumbling or peeling, it poses little risk
- crumbling paint can produce lead dust when the surface is disturbed, especially when it is sanded or scraped

- Pica is a pattern of eating non-food substances, such as paint, clay, dirt and plaster
- children with pica are at especially high risk of having high levels of lead in their blood
- this can occur if they pull peeling paint off walls and eat it or chew on painted surfaces, such as windowsills

- if lead-based paint needs to be removed from a home, pregnant women and children should stay out of the home until paint removal is complete
- only experts should remove leaded paint, using proper precautions

- a pregnant woman also can be exposed to significant amounts of lead in drinking water if her home has lead pipes, lead solder on copper pipes, or brass faucets
- a pregnant woman can contact her local health department or water supplier to find out how to get pipes tested for lead
- women who use well water should have their water tested regularly for lead and other contaminants

- the EPA recommends running water for 15 to 30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking to help reduce lead levels
- water from the cold water pipe contains less lead than water from the hot pipe
- so cold water should be used for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula
- many home filters do not remove lead, so a pregnant woman should look for a filter that is certified by NSF International to remove lead

Other possible sources of lead in the home include:

    * Lead crystal glassware and some ceramic dishes
- pregnant women and children should not use these items
- commercial ceramics are generally safer than those made by craftspeople

    * Some arts and crafts supplies, including oil paints, ceramic glazes and stained glass materials
- a woman can use lead-free acrylic or watercolor paints during pregnancy and breastfeeding

    * Vinyl miniblinds imported from other countries
    * Old painted toys and some new toys and jewelry
    * Cosmetics containing surma or kohl
    * Lead solder in cans of food imported from other countries
    * Some candies imported from Mexico
    * Certain folk remedies for upset stomach, including those containing greta and azarcon

- many lipsticks contain traces of lead
- a 2009 study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found small amounts of lead in all brands of lipstick tested
- the FDA does not consider these lead levels to be a safety concern and did not release the names of any of the lipstick brands

- the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a similar study in 2007
- people who are exposed to lead on the job (such as painters, plumbers and those working in smelters, auto repair shops, battery manufacturing plants or certain types of construction) should change their clothing (including shoes) and shower at work to avoid bringing lead into the home
- they should wash contaminated clothing at work or wash it at home separately from the rest of the family’s clothing