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Lead and Mercury Dangers for Developing Children
CARA is committed to supporting optimal brain function, and so is offering this information on the
influence of heavy metals and other contaminants on the development and function of the human brain.
We have produced Public Service Announcements to make people aware of this public health problem and
to give them solutions to deal with it. CARA believes that a vigorous response is required to ensure
the well-being of our children and ourselves.
If your children or grandchildren have learning difficulties, delayed motor skills, problems with
concentration, or hyperactivity, they may be suffering from exposure to the heavy metals lead or mercury.
Even if they don't show any symptoms, children may still be affected. Problems can result from children's
direct exposure to lead or mercury, or as a result of their mother having been exposed to lead or mercury
when she was pregnant.
Work
People who work in construction, demolition, recycling, radiator repair, battery manufacturing, pottery and
stained glass are sometimes exposed to lead, and can bring dust home on their clothing, and in their cars.
Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and can be hazardous if they break.
Home and Day Care
Buildings constructed before 1978 often have lead paint that may peel or chip off, leaving paint flakes or
dust on the floor. Children under the age of six are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning since they
crawl on the floor and often put objects in their mouths. The soil around homes and buildings near freeways
or busy roads may have been contaminated with lead from car exhaust. For children living in cities, wind-blown,
lead-enriched dust is now the major source of lead poisoning. Sometimes lead-containing dust or soil may be brought
inside on shoes and clothing. Some older Venetian window blinds made of vinyl have also been shown to contain high
amounts of lead.
Mercury from broken thermometers can be a hazard.
Diet
Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. However, larger fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel
and tilefish) that have lived longer have the highest levels because they've had more time to accumulate it and pose
the greatest risk.
Health
Imported home remedies and patent medicines may contain lead. The traditional Chinese remedies Ba Bow Sen and Cordyseps
include lead as well as a number of herbal medicines like Poying Tan.
The silver fillings used by dentists contain a mixture of metals including mercury. Some flu and tetanus-diphtheria
vaccines contain the preservative thimerosal, consisting of about 49% mercury.
Beauty
Imported cosmetics can contain lead.
Inexpensive children's jewelry of the type sold in vending machines and some necklaces with glass pendants imported
from Mexico may contain mercury.
- If your children may have been exposed to lead or mercury, ask your doctor to test them. If they have a high level of
lead in their blood, it can be treated with a chelating agent, a medicine that helps remove the lead.
- You may also buy an inexpensive test kit for lead, available over the Internet or in some hardware stores. Two were
evaluated by the US Government and found inexpensive and useful. You can read the report. You may purchase kits for testing for lead
in paint, soil and water.
- The Sierra Club is co-sponsoring a project to raise awareness about the dangers of mercury pollution. For the non-profit
rate of $25, you can order a testing kit to find
out how much mercury you have in your body.
Find lead in the environment and remove it. Consult an expert if there is lead-based paint about how to safely remove it.
Clean up paint chips and dust safely. Vacuum frequently. Wash toys, floors, blinds and painted furniture every week with a
detergent. Remove vinyl Venetian blinds and discard.
- Leave your shoes at the door when you come home. If you may be exposed to lead at work, change your clothes and shower when
you return home. Wash your work clothes separately from your other laundry.
- Run cold water for a few minutes before using it for cooking or drinking in case there is lead in the plumbing pipes.
Don't use hot water from the tap for cooking.
- Feed your children regular, healthy, low-fat meals with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. Children, pregnant women,
women who might become pregnant and nursing mothers should not eat ANY swordfish, shark, king mackerel or tilefish. Limit the
servings of albacore "white" tuna to once a week and other fish and shellfish to twice a week. Avoid handmade pottery and dishes
that may contain lead to cook, serve or store food.
If you break a thermometer or spill mercury, you must be very careful how you clean up. NEVER use a vacuum or a broom.
See these Mercury Cleanup
Instructions
- Dispose of toxic materials properly.
Additional Resources
Pages just for kids
Generations - Chinese PSA (English Subtitles)
Watch QuickTime
movie | Get QuickTime
* Courtesy of hubbardbrookfoundation.org
CARA thanks the As You Sow Foundation for a generous grant that allowed us to do research and
finish production of our "Toxic" PSAs, alerting parents to the dangers of heavy metals, and to create this "MetalFree" webpage.
