Who is at Risk?
Although the focus of the course is on employees working in general industry, it's important to understand that lead hazards can also affect each employee's family. With that in mind, we'll cover the effects of lead exposure on children as well as adults.
Children
Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects that can have lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths. Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from playing with toys with lead paint.
Adults, Including Pregnant Women
Adults may be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead. They may also breath lead dust by spending time in areas where lead-based paint is deteriorating, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings. Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as making stained glass, can increase exposure as can certain traditional "folk" remedies containing lead. A pregnant woman's exposure to lead from these sources can result in exposure to her developing baby.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. Why is exposure to lead more dangerous for children than adults?
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