[Maine-NPs] National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week - Oct 22-28

[Pam Cahill]

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 22-28
Increasing Awareness about Lead in Children’s Toys

I’m sure you have been hearing about lead in toys and other consumer 
products in the news. Here’s how to find out more about lead poisoning, 
toys and other lead issues:

? The Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (MCLPPP) has a 
listing of toys that have been recalled for lead on their website. 
www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/lead Click on the item to see a picture of the 
toy and detailed information about it.
? Parents should first check the web page to see if the toy is recalled. 
If it is, children should not play with it and the toy can be returned 
to the store where purchased.
? Parents often want to use home lead test swabs to test their 
children’s toys. These home testing kits are screening tools only. There 
are no standards developed for using these test kits on toys. If a toy 
tests positive with a lead swab, parents can assume the toy has lead and 
should take the toy away from their child. However, a negative test by 
lead swab does not guarantee that the lead content is below acceptable 
guidelines.

We do not know of any children who have been lead poisoned from the 
recently recalled toys. Children are more likely to be exposed to lead 
from paint in their homes than from toys.

? Houses built before 1950 are more likely to contain lead paint.
? In Maine, home renovation projects that generate lead paint dust cause 
approximately half of the lead poisoned cases identified in Maine. Young 
children and pregnant women should not be in a home while remodeling 
work is being done that involves sanding, scraping or disturbing lead 
paint.
? Clean up after remodeling projects is critical. For detailed 
information on cleaning up after renovation, visit the MCLPPP website.
? If you know of families that are planning to remodel or renovate their 
home, have then call 287-4311 and ask for the free DVD, Don’t Spread Lead.
? If you would like a free DVD on lead poisoning in English, Spanish, 
and Somali for your office, call the lead program at 287-4311or email 
Sue at susan.j.lee at maine.gov .

For questions on when children should be tested for lead, the 
recommended schedule for follow up lead tests, and how to prevent lead 
exposure, call the Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 
287-4311 or toll free at 1-866-292-3474. We also welcome calls from 
parents. www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/lead