Clinical signs include the following:

shield need to be about 13.8 feet of water, about 6.6 feet of concrete, or about 1.3 feet of lead. Thick, dense shielding is necessary to protect against gamma rays. The higher the energy of the gamma ray, the thicker the shield must be.

Shielding: Barriers of lead, concrete, or water provide protection from penetrating radiation such as gamma rays and neutrons. This is why certain radioactive materials are stored under water or in concrete or lead-lined rooms, and why dentists place a lead blanket on patients receiving x-rays of their teeth.

• Inappetance.
• Anorexia.
• Vomiting.
• A painful abdomen.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.
• Seizures.
• Head pressing.

Baby food root vegetables (carrots and sweet potatoes) and crackers and cookies (teething biscuits and arrowroot cookies) remained stubbornly high at 100% and 83%, respectively, having detectable levels of lead. This continues a four year trend of high detectable lead levels for these categories.

Feed your child healthy foods with calcium, iron, and vitamin C. These foods may help keep lead out of the body. Calcium is in milk, yogurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables like spinach. Iron is in lean red meats, beans, peanut butter, and cereals.

1. Step 1 – Regular Washing. Wash your child’s hands often with soap and water.
2. Step 2 – A Safer Home. Wet wash your home often – especially window sills and wells.
3. Step 3 – Eat Healthy Foods. Feed your child food that is high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C.
4. Step 4 – Medical Care.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys have shown that average adult blood lead levels have declined from about 15 μg/dL in the 1970s to today’s 1–2 μg/dL. But there are still pockets of high exposures, such as among workers in certain industries.

Symptoms

• Developmental delay.
• Learning difficulties.
• Irritability.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Sluggishness and fatigue.
• Abdominal pain.
• Vomiting.

Blood lead levels should decrease as the child passes the age of 2 years or so, and a stable or increasing blood lead level past that age is likely to be attributable to ongoing exposure.

People with prolonged exposure to lead may also be at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility.