Lead is a metal found in the earth's crust. It can combine with other chemicals to form lead compounds or salt. Lead is a natural element that does not break down in the environment and is very hard to clean up.

Lead can be harmful to anyone. But children are at the greatest risk of being harmed. Their bodies easily absorb lead. This can be bad on the development of their young bodies. Children can get lead into their systems by chewing and eating paint chips and dirt. As everyone has seen in the news, children can get lead poisoning from their toys. There are test kits now made to test childrens toys. Lead can be very serious. It can lead to speech, language, and behavioral problems, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and possibly death. There is no safe level of LEAD.

Children should be screened for lead: especially if:

• LIVE IN OR OFTEN VISIT A HOUSE OR APARTMENT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT BEFORE 1978
• LIVE IN OR OFTEN VISIT A HOUSE OR APARTMENT THAT IS BEING REMODELED OR IS HAVING PAINT REMOVED.
• LlVE WITH ANYONE THAT WORKS AT A JOB WHERE LEAD MAY BE FOUND OR HAS A HBBY THAT USES LEAD.
• LIVE NEAR AN ACTIVE LEAD SMELTER, BATTERY RECYCLING PLANT, OR OTHER INDUSTRY LIKELY TO RELEASE LEAD.
• USE HOME REMEDIES SUCH AS GRETA, AZARCON, OR PAY-LOO-AH, OR COSMETICS WITH KOHL IN THEM.

Doctors could do a lead blood test on children 12-24 months of age. They could screen children between 2-6. And should ask ?'s about child's risk of lead poisoning age3-6