Lead is especially harmful for infant & newborns because it builds up in the infant & newborn’s body; much higher levels than an adult. The lead can eventually replace Calcium in the infant & newborn’s body and cause permanent damage to the infant & newborn’s nerve tissues and brain development.

The younger a infant & newborn is when exposed to lead, the more vulnerable they are to permanent damage. Some of the consequences of lead to a infant & newborn’s nervous system include attention problems, behavior problems, and permanent damage to their IQ. There has also been evidence that has shown that lead exposure can cause hearing deficits and balance deficits in infant & newborns, as well as later reproductive problems. There are even experts who blame a great deal of the country’s violent crime on lead poisoning. Any amount of lead is considered dangerous for infant & newborns.

The symptoms of chronic lead poisoning include nausea, insomnia, abdominal pain, irritability, a metallic taste in the mouth, hyperactivity, headache, and reduced cognitive abilities. There are also gastrointestinal problems associated with chronic lead poisoning that might include diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Any parent who is concerned that their infant & newborn has been exposed to lead can have them quickly screened with an inexpensive blood test. If a infant & newborn’s blood lead level is higher than 1 mc/dl then it is important for parents to find the cause of the lead exposure and remove it from the infant & newborn’s environment immediately.

Most of the time taking the lead exposure away and providing the infant & newborn with a healthy diet effectively lowers the blood lead levels. Foods that are rich in calcium, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, beans, cauliflower, rhubarb, carrots and celery can protect the body from absorbing lead. Iron rich foods, such as raisins, beef and green vegetables also help the body fight against exposure to lead. In some rare instances a infant & newborn may have to receive chelation treatments to remove the lead from their body.