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Courtesy of the Kiwanis Club International |
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Most of the dinnerware that's in use contains lead in its glaze, but are specially formulated and fired to prevent the lead from leaching out and contaminating food. However, if the glaze has been improperly formulated, the lead will have a greater tendency of leaching out and being released into food at unsafe levels. The acceptable standards of lead leaching from dinnerware are relatively strict from the countries where a majority of our sets of china are purchased, such as Great Britain and Japan where good quality control procedures are in effect, similar to those of the United States. Pieces of china manufactured in the U.S. since 1971 are generally safe to use, since the FDA set guidelines for lead-leaching limits for ceramic glazes. Domestic manufacturers are required to kiln their dinnerware at adequate temperatures that are high enough to prevent lead-leaching. In 1989, the FDA proposed setting legislation that would lower the acceptable limit for pitchers of all sizes, except creamers, to 0.1 ppm (parts per million) of an acidic test solution down from 2.5 - 5.0 ppm for pitchers greater than 1.1 liters and less than 1.1 liters, respectively. The potential sources of lead are antiques &
collectibles (pre-19171), ceramic dishes and pottery made in foreign countries such as Italy and Mexico, and pieces made be amateurs or hobbyists. It is wise to have your dinnerware tested to find out if high levels of lead are being released. Ceramicware can be tested at commercial laboratories or by home lead-testing kits. To locate laboratories in your area, contact the local health department. If acidic foods such as orange, tomato and other fruit juices, wine and vinegar are stored on dishes or in pitchers that have been improperly glazed, then the lead from the container may be extracted into the food by the acid content. The following is a summary of steps to reduce the risk of lead poisoning from ceramic dinnerware: • Avoid using ceramic dinnerware for storing food. Alternatively, use plastic or glass containers to store foods, especially those foods with high acid content, such as those mentioned above. • Beware of ceramic dinnerware purchased in other countries. Standards vary from each country on the amount of lead released from ceramic glazes. If you are unsure about the safety standards in foreign countries, you may want to avoid making a purchase, do not use them with foods or use clear glass liners to reduce the risk of lead poisoning. • Do not use antique dinnerware for holding foods or beverages. If they were purchased at garage sales, antique malls, flea markets, craft shows or antique auctions, as well as family inheritances, then they may have been manufactured before the federal standards for lead were imposed in 1971. • Be cautious of ceramic dinnerware made by amateurs or hobbyists. It is difficult to tell whether proper techniques or equipment were used in the application of glazes by hobbyists. These items should be used for display purposes only. • Have questionable dinnerware tested to determine if it is safe to use. Check with the local health department or phone book's Yellow Pages to locate a qualified commercial laboratory to test your set of dishes. Another method is to use a home-testing kit which can be ordered from Frandon Enterprises, P.O. Box 300321, Seattle, WA 98013; (800) 359-9000 or (206) 633-2341 The initial symptoms of lead poisoning include flu-like symptoms, which may lead into fatigue, headaches, skin conditions, irritability, dehydration and abdominal pain. Most victims of lead poisoning are anemic. Chronic lead ingestion may cause hearing loss, irritability, and renal (kidney) damage. Lead poisoning is hard to diagnose, but the condition is easy to detect by a laboratory test.
Preventing lead poisoning in Children
"Young Children: Priority One" The problem Childhood lead poisoning is the number one environmental health risk facing children in industrialized countries today. In the United States, more than three million children age six and younger-- that's one out of every six children in that age group--has toxic levels of lead in their bodies. Similar proportions of children are affected in other countries, from Germany to Australia, that have used lead in industry and consumer products. Lead poisoning affects families from every socioeconomic level, though the problem tends to be worse in neighborhoods where buildings are not well cared for. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that interferes with the development and functioning of almost all body organs, particularly the kidneys, red blood cells, and central nervous system. In young children, lead retards the development of the central nervous system and brain. High levels of lead exposure can result in coma, convulsions, and death. At low levels, lead can cause reduced IQ, reading and learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavioral problems. As a result, childhood lead poisoning is associated with lower educational achievement, higher rates of high school drop-out and increased behavioral problems. In the long run, children who are lead poisoned may be less likely to become positive contributors to our communities and our economy. The overwhelming cause of lead poisoning in children is lead-based paint in homes. In the United States, lead was banned in residential paint in 1978. About half of all older homes in the U.S. contain some leaded paint and approximately two to three million homes have lead-based paint that is peeling or flaking, an immediate hazard to children. Invisible lead dust on household surfaces is just as hazardous to children as paint chips. Most children are lead poisoned today through the ingestion of leaded household dust. This dust can be created by friction--the opening of windows or the rubbing of a tight door. Children are also being poisoned by home renovation projects that generate lead dust. Many home owners are not aware of the hazards of lead removal and unknowingly poison their children.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. All it requires is: o Awareness of the risk of lead poisoning and particularly the danger in home renovations. o Identification of children who are at risk or who are already poisoned. o Removal and reduction of the lead hazards in homes, child care centers, and schools. o Kiwanis clubs can help eliminate lead poisoning by working in any of these areas. Clubs may be able to coordinate their activities with the local health department. In areas where lead poisoning is not yet identified as a priority, clubs can spearhead a coalition with local pediatricians, children's hospitals, contracting firms, home builders, and schools.
The first challenge of an awareness campaign is to alert the community to the problem: childhood lead poisoning is a threat to all children under the age of six. Misconceptions about lead poisoning prevent action. Many people think the problem of lead poisoning was solved when lead was taken out of paint and gasoline. Others believe that a few youngsters living in extreme poverty get lead poisoning when they eat chips of peeling paint. The truth is that lead poisoning will continue to threaten children as long as lead is present in our environment and homes. Many people fixing up their homes unknowingly place themselves and their families at risk of lead poisoning. Improper removal of lead-based paint creates leaded dust which is hazardous both to the worker and the family. Young children and pregnant women are particularly at risk. Alerting the public to this risk is one of the best methods of preventing childhood lead poisoning. The public also should learn about other possible sources of lead poisoning: in soil around lead-painted homes, in drinking water, in some enameled dishes and crystal, and hobbies. Kiwanis clubs could play a key role in prevention by launching a comprehensive public education campaign. It should include every possible method of spreading the word. The media--Press articles, newspaper advertisements, radio public service announcements, television and radio interviews. Special events--Town meetings, community forums, fairs, social club meetings, professional organization meetings. Printed materials--Brochures, pamphlets, flyers, posters. Try to identify the places in your community where your target audience might go or meet. For example, people involved in home repair will go to the hardware store or lumber yard. Most pregnant women will be receiving care from an obstetrician or a clinic. Target your activities to these places.
Early identification of lead poisoning can ensure proper medical treatment and reduce the long-term threat to a child's development. A simple blood test is all that is needed. All children should be tested by their first birthday and then at least once a year until age seven. Nine out of ten children are never tested for lead poisoning. This means many of the children affected are never identified. Early identification of children with lead poisoning can ensure proper medical and environmental follow-up and can prevent more serious damage due to continued lead exposure. A community-wide screening fair would be an important step toward identifying all the children with lead poisoning in the community. The screening could also serve as a way to raise awareness about the problem, the risk of renovation, and the need to clean up the lead in a child's environment. Lead screening could be incorporated into a larger health screening effort, such as a health fair or immunization drive, or it can be organized on its own. In either situation, a club can help in several ways.
Ultimately, preventing childhood lead poisoning may require removing the lead in a child's environment. This is the best way to prevent lead poisoning, and it is vital for children who are already poisoned. Removing lead-based paint, called abatement, can be hazardous and requires specialized training and safety precautions. Many localities, however, do not have the trained work force, materials, or resources to safely and properly identify and remove lead-based paint. Kiwanis clubscan help build this capacity in a number of ways.
The organizations listed below offer materials that may assist a club in developing a lead-poisoning prevention program.
600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20003 U.S.A. (202) 543-1147 The Alliance staff offers technical assistance and will help clubs find local contacts who can offer expert advice for a local prevention program. The Alliance also provides materials on request. These include: Guide to State Lead Screening Laws, Resource Guide for Financing, Lead-Based Paint Cleanup, and copies of fact-filled articles from newspapers, magazines, and other organizations.
San Francisco, CA 94118 U.S.A. (800) 532-3837 orders only (415) 885-4645 information Offers a free pamphlet on lead poisoning and sells testing kits and a book on lead abatement ($20).
Washington, DC 20036-5105 U.S.A. (202) 293-2270 • (800) LEAD-FYI Offers a variety of brochures and fact sheets aimed at parents, explaining the dangers of lead poisoning, the importance of testing children, and safe home renovations. Also provides a list of state contacts.
Washington, DC 20057 U.S.A. (202) 625-8410 • (703) 821-8955 ext. 254 Offers a book titled Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, a state-by-state listing of experts and programs on lead screenings, medical treatment, paint testing, home inspection, and abatement. One copy free on request.
Chicago, IL 60640 U.S.A. (800) 323-4222 ext. 43 Offers a videotape and study guide titled Kids and Lead Hazards: What Every Family Should Know. Developed by Consumers Reports Television and Connecticut Public Television. Cost: $29.95 (includes shipping and handling).
Lead paint and coatings Kits designed to test for lead paint only indicate whether lead is present in the paint and do not indicate the amount of lead. Low levels of lead detected by a laboratory often aren't detected by these kits.
Lead in water
A reproducible brochure titled "Get the Lead Out" appears in the printed version of this service bulletin. The printed bulletin also includes a sample press release, radio PSAs, a sample letter to parents, and a sample poster. The printed bulletin can be ordered by calling 317-875-8755 ext. 214. If you have any questions about this bulletin or would like a hard copy, please contact:
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