Have you had your children's lead level checked?
By kaysue4
@kaysue4 (951)
United States
May 4, 2008 7:45am CST
Ok, this is why I am asking this question, I have 4 boys and when they were under the age of 5 years old they were tested and 3 of them had HIGH lead levels.
My one son, now 15, had the highest at 54. Now a days anything over 5 is not a good thing, back then it was 10.
My son almost had to goto the hospital to have something done called, Keylayed(unsure of spelling, sorry.) It is were they have to hook the child up to a machine and place an IV in thier arm and have the blood kinda like pumped through a machine and "clean" thier blood.
Did you know that a child can also die from high lead levels? I was I guess lucky in away because my son ONLY walked out of this with conditions that affect his thinking. He has ADHD, Bi-polar, and possible Asperger's. He has a hard time also with being a slower learner. Even though he is 15, he is only mind age of 12 years old.
Sometime high lead levels can also cause a child to go into a coma.
Now my other two boys that are now, soon 18 and 19, have bi-polar and the one Oppositional conduct disorder and both are ADHD. Thier lead levels were only 21 and 25. They were lucky.
High lead levels can be caused by living in an older home that might have been painted by lead and the lead paint is peeling and also turning into a dust that a child can touch with thier hands and then place thier hands in thier mouth.
You also have to watch out for leaded chrystal and never have a child touch or eat from something that says it is made with leaded chrystal.
There is also lead that holds together stain glass windows.
I have done a lot of research and at one time in college I had given a speach on this subject, let alone personal experiance.
So, my question to mothers with young children, have you had thier lead levels check by thier doctor's?
If not, please get them checked. I would not want another mother to go through the pain of not knowing and the results that could come from this hidden danger to little children under the age of 5 years old.
5 responses
@qtfrog99 (279)
• United States
4 May 08
Fortunately with all the lead news going on today my sons pediatrician had all of his patients tested. My son was fine, thank goodness, but I just hope that all pediatricians are being as cautious as his was. Just a little note too, beware of buying toys at a dollar store, they usually have lead based paint and they come in bulk boxes so there is no warning to which one has it and which one doesn't.
@kaysue4 (951)
• United States
4 May 08
I forgot all about the toys. All of the lead was on my front porch where the boys always played at. I thought it was safe for them, here, I did more harm than good for them.
I still blame myself in a way, but back then, they had no warnings that was going on to parents. Just think, that was only 14 years ago.
At least it has come a long ways in informing parents now.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
6 May 08
It's mandatory in this city at 9 months and then every year if you live in a high risk house, which we do since it is older then 70 years and is being renovated. So my kids have had the lead tested many, many times.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 May 08
there is also a threat to drinking water if you have lead pipes, the city sent a notice around to all our homes say there could be possible contamination which could affect pregnant women. I don't have little children though.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
4 May 08
My daughter had her lead level checked it is part of my doctors regular phsical checkup if you live in an older house. Her lead levels come back just fined thankfully. My older child though I don't think he has had his lead level checked that I know of.
