Every year thousands of children and adults are accidentally poisoned by lead. Childhood lead poisoning is one of the most common health problems in the United States today. The tragedy is that all lead poisoning is entirely preventable, if you know the source and precautions to take. Enough is now known about the sources and pathways of lead exposure and about ways of preventing this exposure to begin the efforts to permanently erase this disease. The persistence of lead poisoning in the United States, in light of all that is known, presents a singular and direct challenge to public health authorities, clinicians, regulatory agencies, educators and society.
Previous lead statements issued by the Center of Disease Control have acknowledged the adverse effects of lead at lower and lower levels. Some adverse effects occur at blood lead levels as low as 10 ug/dl in children. This has become so overwhelming and compelling that it must be a major force in determining how we approach childhood lead exposure.
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Because the adverse effects of lead occur at the lower level of the range at which effects are now identified, primary prevention activities, such as, community-wide environmental interventions and nutritional and educational campaigns should be directed at reducing children’s blood head level below the border zone.
The purpose of writing this unit on Preventing Lead Poisoning In Children is to raise the level of awareness of some environmental problems and to brainstorm for possible solutions.
The unit will address the history of lead, where lead comes from, harmful effects of lead, sources and pathways of lead exposure, lead in paint, gasoline, and water. It will also look at testing for lead and lead prevention.
The unit will be written to address the needs of students in grades five through eight (5-8). the unit will include pre and post test, vocabulary, lesson plans, field trips, teacher and student resources and a bibliography.
The goal of the unit is to challenge teachers and students to become part of the solution to the problems and not part of the problems to our prevention of lead poisoning in children.