FORT HALL — The Early Childhood Programs received training on childhood lead poisoning prevention from the
Environmental Waste Management Program (EWMP) in mid March.
Early Childhood teachers and staff listened as they discovered the new information about lead dangers and children.
Vera Honena, Information Education Specialist (EWMP), loaded the teachers down with information. After their education, the teachers said they had begun throwing out toys that were suspect to having lead in them.
Lead laced products are more common than once thought with the shocking new findings. The recent hype about lead poisoning in the Thomas Train incident has brought the American public to take a better look at the products they buy children.
Disturbingly, everyday product and household names have become the culprits of widely used lead tainted products. Low-cost products from the dollar stores, imports from China and other foreign countries are marketing unsafe products with corporate America trading capital gains over the American public's health with cheap labor and inexpensive imports. The cost is really more expensive than figured. The EPA said there is "no safe level of lead exposure," and the EPA is working on a new proposal that will be submitted in May.
Local efforts on raising lead awareness are with the Tribal EWMP, which have been busy launching a Tribal Education Outreach 2008 spotlighting the dangers and how one can identify the hazardous products and how to protect their children and families. The outreach plans have visited some programs and schools and plan to visit the Tribal Business Center, Elderly Nutrition programs, and the five district lodges.
"Children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years are at greatest risk," advised Honena. Lead based paint up to 1978 is high risk, but lead is not only found in paint it is found in (many imported...) ceramics, toys, dishes, soil, windows, dust, pots and pans, candy, crayons, chalk, canned food, jewelry, pharmaceuticals and other everyday items says the EWMP. Sources of lead are also found in pipes for plumbing, solder and fixtures, food that is grown in soil contaminated with lead, or that has been stored in ceramic containers holding lead. Other sources include lead-based insecticides and past highway pollution, when lead was used in gasoline-which remains years after in soils. Certain jobs are more prone to be exposure to lead, hobbies, folk remedies, plastic mini-blinds, antiques and even cosmetics may contain lead. Lead exposure may contribute to many health risks. In children under the age of 6 years of age it can cause brain and nervous system damage, kidney damage, hearing loss, anemia, poor muscle coordination, speech/language and behavior problems, decreased muscle and bone growth, and learning disabilities. High level exposure can lead to more serious effects such as seizures, unconsciousness, and in some cases may cause death.
For more information or to schedule a presentation Environmental Waste Management Program at (208) 478-3907.
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