What is lead?

Lead is a heavy, very toxic metal that can be found in the earth’s crust naturally. It has been used for the thousands of years because it is abundant, easy to extract from the ground and simple to work with. Up until a few decades ago it was a key ingredient in many household products, such as paint, batteries, pottery, gasoline, and solder. It is not biodegradable and virtually indestructible.

What is lead poisoning?

The build up of too much lead in the blood can lead to poisoning which in turn can have disastrous effects on practically every system in the human body. Outward signs or symptoms are subtle and/or not immediately recognizable as lead poisoning.

Perhaps the most common place to find traces of lead is in household paint manufactured before 1978. It was in 1978 that congress passed legislation banning the use of lead in household paints because of the dire health consequences it was proven to have. However, many older apartment buildings and houses still have old layers of lead based on their walls, which can be the main source of lead paint poisoning today.

It can also be found in the air, water, and even in some foods.

• Air: the levels of lead in the air have decreased considerably over the last few decades as lead was taken out of gasoline in the 1970’s.
• Water: it can still be found in some old water pipes, however the use of lead in soldering broken pipes in no longer allowed in the U.S.
• Food & Juices: lead can still be found in juices and foods stored in metal cans made abroad or ceramic containers that were improperly fired.

The newest place for lead to be found, disturbingly, is in toys manufactured in China. From May 2007 onwards there have been a slew of highly publicized product recalls from well-known toy manufacturers such as Mattell, Fisher Price, and Sarge. These manufacturers have had to recall millions of children’s toys because lead based paint were used to coat them, and magnets found on the toys were found to have contained lead.

Children under the age of 12 are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning as their bodies can absorb 50% of the lead they ingest, whereas adults can only absorb 10%. Due to the developing nature of children, their brains are more susceptible to injury from exposure to chemicals and poisoning. The curious nature of children, and their tendency to investigate with their mouths is another reason why they are more likely to contract lead poisoning.

High levels of lead poisoning can lead to; brain swelling, problems with the kidneys and bone marrow, convulsions, comas, and even death

Lower levels of lead poisoning has been associated with; loss of IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), antisocial and even criminal behavior.

Due to the subtle symptoms of lead poisoning it is crucial to be acutely aware of changes in your child’s demeanor and behavior. Symptoms include:

• Stomach pain
• Seizures
• Hair loss
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Anemia (low blood cell count)

If you think your child has been exposed to lead via any form then it is vital that you take them to a pediatrician for a simple blood test (a mere prick in the finger) to determine if they have been lead poisoned.

The aim of a lawsuit is to seek damages in order to pay for a child’s injuries, medical expenses, and in some cases anguish suffered by the child and family.

There are a number of different people whom you can bring the lawsuit against in order to claim damages; landlords and contractors, or manufacturers of paint, oils, and toys. If your child suffered lead poisoning, please contact one the experienced attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg and Jeck P.C. for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.

Toll Free: (866) 569.3400.