In this outbreak, lead dust from the mines was to blame. However, in the US, when children have high blood lead levels, it's usually because of lead-based paint (which was banned from use in housing in 1978) and lead-contaminated dust. To avoid lead poisoning in the US, follow these tips:
-Make sure children do not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
-Regularly wash children's hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both are known lead sources.
-Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources.
-Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes.
-Pregnant women and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation. They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed.
-Household dust is a major source of lead, so parents should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every 2-3 weeks.