Lead poisoning doesn’t happen all at once. It seeps into a person’s system, little by little, from different sources in the environment. Young children, babies, or even fetuses are the most at risk to experience the damaging side effects. Some of those effects are permanent and that is why what doctors refer to as “plumbism” is such a serious issue.

Since lead has many environmental sources, many of which are not apparent through casual observation, experience that has taught us where to look for it. Most often, the damage is done within our very own homes. Paint inside the house or on toys and painted china, dust near busy roads and highways, stained glass windows, lead water pipes, some imported canned food and cosmetics, and sometimes even the dirt outside our doors can be contaminates. The lead may be swallowed or inhaled without our even knowing about it.

Many times, the accumulation of lead in the system is so gradual that in a healthy person, equally slow onset of signs or symptoms might be overlooked or easily dismissed. Lead poisoning can affect muscles, organs, reproduction, and brain function.

By the time the symptoms or signs are recognized, the levels of lead in the blood are usually well into toxic ranges. Most often, children are the victims because a growing fetus or child has tissues that are more susceptible to absorbing lead than an adult does. Consequently, every child should be given a simple blood test during his/her annual check-up to detect the presence of lead, even if there are no symptoms or there isn’t significant reason to believe an exposure has occurred. If the child’s medical insurance does not cover routine tests such as for lead, many counties have health programs that offer the testing free of charge.

An attorney and/or the department of health can be of service in making sure that a tenant’s rights are protected when lead poisoning is an issue in a rented home or apartment. They can provide advice and evaluate the situation for possible benefits provided under the law, including requiring the landlord or housing authority to perform an assessment and/or correct the problem. When a child is involved, many states offer assistance for a family’s relocation from contaminated living quarters and will provide help in arranging special educational services from local school districts. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may be available for those who experience severely debilitating effects of lead poisoning.