Poisoned childhood
Lead poisoning in children is causing a storm in New York. A large number of cases seeking action against lead poisoning are pending in courts. Lead is present in numerous forms in the environment of most cities of the world. Children are most susceptible to its ill effects as it can enter through a number of ways. It can be inhaled as particles in the air; licked in paint dust on a child's hands; chewed as paint peeling chips; and eaten in the soil of playgrounds. Lead poisoning can cause kidney malfunctioning, seizures, serious brain damage, and even death. Even in small amounts, lead disrupts the growth of a child's brain, leading to learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and emotional disturbances. Worse still, researchers have not been able to pinpoint the level of lead in the body that can be considered safe. The US Centers for Disease Control found that lead directly affects the IQ level of children under the age of six. A law to check lead poisoning in children was passed in New York as far back as 1981 but critics argue that it has failed to be effective ( The Urban Age , Vol 5, No 1).
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