Lead editorial is just "plumb" wrong.
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal leaves readers with the false impression that lead exposure in children is no longer a problem.
A recent topic of heated debate is whether the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act should have been passed in the first place. The law was intended to protect children from exposure to lead in toys. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal suggests the implications of the law may not have been well thought out before it was enacted.
However, the editorial then states that “in 2008 only one American child was injured from lead poisoning from toys.”
That statement reflects a complete lack of understanding of why lead is such a problem for children. Undoubtedly the author found information on the number of cases in 2008 of acute lead poisoning. This type of lead poisoning involves a quick onset of very high levels of lead exposure resulting in symptoms such as paralysis, coma and seizures. These cases typically involve a child swallowing a lead trinket or toy. Fortunately, acute lead poisoning is quite rare in the United States.
The real problem with lead is that it is more like a thief. It's stealthy, and it steals children’s potential to develop normally and lead a full life.
Lead especially affects the young, growing brain. The metal has been linked to numerous neurodevelopmental problems including lower IQ, poor academic performance, impaired memory, altered motor skills, ADHD-like symptoms, and aggression, to name a few. However given the subtle types of harm caused by lead, there is no reliable way to accurately tally the number of children that are affected by it. And without those numbers to find on a quick internet search, people do not realize how pervasive it is.
Probably the most alarming aspect of lead poisoning is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there is likely no safe amount of lead when it comes to health effects in children. Any amount of lead can cause harm to children. As a result, the CDC advocates reducing children’s exposure to all sources of lead including toys. Toys may not be the main source of exposure to lead, but every little bit counts when it comes to damaging the developing brain.
Unfortunately the large readership of the Wall Street Journal was left thinking that lead poisoning is an overinflated concern. It is worthwhile to discuss the problems in implementing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, but do not sell the health of our children short by saying that lead only harmed one child in 2008.
