Blood lead levels on an all-time-low

Mattel Inc.'s recall of toys over lead content concerns has suddenly fueled the topic. According to experts, lead-exposure in America has dropped to all-time-low levels since 1970s but still about 310,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 have high levels of the toxin in their blood.

"Lead is a confirmed neurotoxin that can affect children's learning abilities and increase their risk for behavioral problems," said Dr. Adam Spanier, associate director of the Lead Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

But the major source of exposure, it is said is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in deteriorating buildings and not the lead-coated-toys.

Post the Mattel recall parents were encouraged to get lead-levels in their children’s blood tested. "There is no acceptable level of lead exposure for a child," CDC spokeswoman Bernadette Burden said on Tuesday. "If the parent is concerned, we encourage them to have their child screened for lead exposure."

Many pediatric toxicology specialists noted that the recall is no reason for parents to panic unduly.

Lead-exposure causes greater concern for children than adults as the rapidly growing bodies absorb 50% of the lead they ingest, compared with 10% absorption for adults. It can have adverse effects on the developing brain, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, among other things.

The toys painted with lead are unlikely to cause any major adversity, even if children used them for 4-5 months. Since lead-poisoning is a chronic disease, a low-level exposure for a long time is dangerous.

Because of its gradual nature, the problem might become apparent after sometime and the patient may show signs of irritability, low appetite and lethargy.

“A child really has to be able to bite off, or pick off and eat, pieces of paint to be significantly exposed,” said Dr. Michael Shannon, a Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School pediatrician and toxicologist.

Around 30 years ago, the U.S. government took major steps to check lead-contamination in paints, gasoline and other sources. The measures proved to be effective as the blood-lead levels are far lower than even a decade ago; almost the lowest ever.