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There has been a lot of news coverage recently about high lead levels in imported toys and other children’s items.
Efforts are currently under way in Southern Nevada to monitor and minimize lead exposures in children. Lead is a metallic element that can be absorbed by the body and is listed as a known carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory. Lead poisoning is the result of a gradual accumulation of lead in the blood, bone and other tissues after repeated exposure to contaminated materials including lead-based paint, soil, household dust, pottery and cookware. Children absorb lead more easily than adults, making them particularly susceptible to the adverse affects of lead. In children six and younger, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death.
The Southern Nevada Health District and UNLV’s School of Public Health are working together as part of the statewide Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Through June, the program will conduct free and voluntary lead-based paint inspections in homes built prior to 1978. Lead paint dust and chips are a source of exposure in children and occurs as the paint deteriorates and peels or flakes. The deteriorated paint creates dust that people, especially children, get on their hands and into their bodies. With thousands of pre-1978 homes in Las Vegas, lead-based paint as a source of potential contamination has become a primary focus of investigation for researchers and health officials.
The home inspections consist of a surface-by-surface investigation using a hand held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine, which detects lead in paint, dust and soil. The entire process lasts approximately an hour and is non-invasive. If a home is found to contain lead-based paint, investigators work with the homeowner to determine the best course of remediation. Strategies depend on many factors and range from cleaning and maintenance in minor instances to door and window replacement, paint stabilization techniques and renovation in more severe cases.
To schedule an inspection, contact the Southern Nevada Health District at (702) 759-1283. Homeowners who need more information on the age of their residence can visit the Office of the Clark County Assessor’s website, www.accessclarkcounty.com/assessor.
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program began in 2006 as the result of a grant to the Southern Nevada Health District from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program is a partnership between the health district, UNLV and the Nevada Center of Environmental Health Surveillance, and includes assessment of lead levels in local residences, protocol development and testing of environmental samples.
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