Lead is a poison. Many homes and apartments built before 1978 have lead paint in them. Water and soil can also have lead in them. Kids can get lead poisoning by:

• Putting their hands in their mouth after touching lead paint or dust
• Breathing in dust that has lead in it
• Drinking water from lead faucets or pipes
• Eating chips of lead paint from walls, windowsills, and old painted furniture
• Eating dirt, chalk, wood, clay, or other things that are not food

Symptoms of lead poisoning are:

• Not feeling hungry
• Stomach pain
• Throwing up
• Constipation
• Crankiness
• Loss of energy
• Trouble sleeping

Lead poisoning is very dangerous. It can cause:

• Slowed growth
• Shortened attention span
• Hyperactivity (not being able to sit still)
• Learning and hearing problems
• Headaches
• Brain damage

Your child could seem fine but have too much lead in his or her body. The only way to know is to get a blood test. All children living in a high-risk ZIP code area must have a lead-screening blood test at ages 1 and 2. Children between ages 3 and 6 should receive a lead-screening blood test if they have not already been tested for lead poisoning. Your doctor may order the test when your child is younger than age 1 and more often if your child is at high risk.