Child Lead Poisoning Dangers in Arizona

    PHOENIX, AZ, May 14, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The dangers of lead poisoning can have potentially lethal effects to exposed individuals and remains a dominant health concern. Lead poisoning is the most common environmental disease of children. The Arizona Department of Health Services states that children six and younger are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning and that it can adversely affect their nervous systems and brain development.

In Arizona, laboratories and health care providers reported 239 children with lead poisoning in 2004. Lead poisoning can be a result of exposure to the paint in your homes or school buildings built before 1978, and in Arizona 64% of all homes fit these criteria.

Causes of Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning can be found in the following:

• Mini blinds
• Finishing in fixtures such as bathtubs
• Drinking water
• Ceramic wear
• Lead containing toys
• Lead containing folk remedies and lead containing pottery are significant sources of lead exposure in Arizona.

Although the city of Phoenix has set up a Lead Safe Rental Registry with a list of privately owned housing that are determined safe from the dangers of lead dangers, there are still many risk factors and dangers out there.

Effects of Lead Poisoning

Lead is toxic to all systems of the body, but children under seven are susceptible to some of the more life damaging repercussions of lead exposure. Some of them include:

• Severe learning disabilities
• Attention deficit disorder
• Damage to central nervous system
• Kidney failure
• Lowered IQ
• Anti-social behavior
• Coma
• Death

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

Unfortunately the symptoms for lead poisoning in children are very hard to detect. Some precautions parents can choose to undertake are regular pediatric checkups, at least until the child is seven. Inquire about the paint in houses built before 1978, or call your local department of health services in the Phoneix, Mesa, Tempe and Maricopa surrounding areas for more information. Some warning signs for parents include:

• Memory problems
• Coordination problems
• Vomiting
• Slow reflexes
• Abdominal pain
• Hyperactivity
• Loss of consciousness
• Irritability
• Seizures, Temors.

Children tend to ingest lead by their tendency to put things in their mouths, which leads to the possibility of ingesting loose paint chips that contain lead. Even constantly putting a toy in their mouths that might have traces of lead can be a danger to the child. Pregnant women are also at risk in endangering their fetus if they are exposed to high amounts of lead which can cause birth defects.

Contact an Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are living in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, or surrounding areas and were a victim of the unknown levels of lead in your home, the paint manufacturer, real estate agency or even landlord may be responsible. You may want to inquire about compensation for the pain and suffering and explore what other options you may have with an Arizona personal injury lawyer. For more information see: http://www.solomonrelihan.com/.

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