Lead Information for New and Soon-to-Be Parents
Congratulations! Welcoming a new child into your life, by birth or adoption, is an exciting and eventful time. Here is some guidance for keeping the newest member of your family safe and healthy from lead.
About Lead
Lead is a type of metal that harms the brain and body. Children are most at risk before birth and in the first few years of life, because they are growing and developing so quickly. We aren’t exposed to lead as much as people were in the past, but there are still a number of common sources.
The most common way for children to be exposed is by lead paint. Homes built before 1978 often still contain some surfaces with lead paint. Let your doctor know if you live in an older home, or spend a lot of time in one.
Also let your doctor know if:
- Your home has lead pipes or plumbing fixtures, or if you aren’t sure
- You use homemade, antique, or imported pottery, ceramics, or crystal
- You use any traditional folk remedies or ritual items
- Examples: Herbs (such as ba-baw-san), powders (such as azarcon), makeup (such as kohl), jewelry (such as tabiz), or other items that aren’t sold in a typical drug store or supermarket
- You have skincare, spices, candies, or toys in your home that came from another country, especially if they were sold by a street vendor or market
- You or anyone else in the house have a job or hobby that can involve lead exposure
- Examples: home remodeling, auto repair, metal work, welding, industrial painting, electronics repair, jewelry making or repair, hunting or target shooting, stained glass crafting, or ceramics
- Lead can stay on clothing, hair, and skin, so anyone who does these jobs or hobbies can accidentally bring lead into the home
- Your home is near a place with high levels of lead
- Examples: Mines, smelters, steel mills, battery recycling plants
- These can still be a risk even if they’re no longer being used
- Any children in the house have been told they have an elevated blood lead level
Remember: even if several of these apply to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. It just means you are at higher risk. Your doctor will use this information to help figure out the best way to keep your family safe. For more info about possible sources, see the Lead Sources page.
Pregnancy
In addition to the list above, there are a few extra concerns during pregnancy. Lead can pass from you to your unborn baby and cause problems like:
- Early birth or low birth weight
- Harm to the baby's brain or kidneys
- Learning or behavior problems later in life
Some pregnant people get a craving or urge to eat things that aren’t food, such as dirt, clay, soil, plaster, or paint chips. Let your doctor know if you ever eat or chew non-food items.
Also let your doctor know if:
- You recently moved here from another country
- You have a history of elevated blood lead levels
They may decide to test the level of lead in your blood to make sure it isn’t too high.
Eating a diet that is high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C can help protect you and your unborn baby. See the Lead and Nutrition page for more info.
Here’s a printout from the CDC with some advice (also available en español).
Breastfeeding/Nursing
It’s also possible for lead in your body to be passed to your baby through breast milk. In most cases, it’s still safe to do so, but your doctor may test your baby’s blood to make sure.
If you have very high levels of lead in your blood, your doctor may tell you to pump and discard milk until the level goes down. This can be difficult to hear, and you may have complicated feelings about it. Know that by following your doctor’s advice, you are doing what is best for the health of you and your baby. Let your doctor know if you have any concerns, or if you need help getting or paying for formula.
It is important to keep eating a diet that is high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C. See the Lead and Nutrition page for more info. If you have high blood lead levels, ask your doctor about taking a calcium supplement. But don’t start taking any medication or supplement without talking to your doctor first, especially while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Adoption
Adopting a child presents its own set of concerns about lead. There are two possibilities that may need extra attention.
International Adoption
Other countries have different laws about lead, which can put kids at higher risk. For more info, see the CDC’s page on Risk Factors and International Adoption.
Your child should get a full checkup within 30 days of moving to the US. We recommend you ask the doctor to check their blood lead level as part of this exam, or to have it done around the same time. See the page on Blood Lead Level Testing for more info on how to have your child tested.
Adopting Children Over 2
Allegheny County requires blood lead level testing for all children around ages 1 and 2. If your child lived outside of Allegheny County, they may not have gotten these tests done. It is also not unusual for there to be gaps or errors in medical records for children who are adopted, especially if they have been in foster care.
If your child hasn’t been tested, or if you’re unsure, here are our recommendations:
- Ages 2-6: Testing is required by age 6 or before starting kindergarten, whichever comes first
- Ages 6-16: Testing is not required, but is recommended
- Over 16: Testing is recommended if you think they may have been exposed to lead, if there are developmental or behavioral concerns, or if they’re pregnant or nursing
See the page on Blood Lead Level Testing for more info on how to have your child tested.
Required Childhood Testing
Allegheny County requires all children to have blood lead level testing done at about 9-12 months old. While this may seem like it’s a long way off if you are pregnant or have a newborn, it’ll be here before you know it. Your doctor should remind you about getting the test done.
The initial test is a simple finger-stick, and you usually get the results right away. If it’s negative, your child doesn’t have elevated blood lead levels. If it’s positive, they’ll be referred for follow-up testing to confirm the results. See the page on Blood Lead Level Testing for more info.