Lead Poisoning
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What is Lead Poisoning?
What is the Cause of Lead Poisoning?
What are the Symptoms of Lead Poisoning?
What are the Effects of Lead Poisoning?
How is Lead Poisoning Treated?
How to Avoid Lead Poisoning?
Why do I Need a Lead Poisoning Attorney?
If you or your children have been the victims of lead poisoning,
the right personal injury lawyer can make certain that you recover
the maximum benefits you deserve under the law. Please read on
or feel free to contact any one of our fourteen offices throughout
Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts with any questions
that you have regarding your lead poisoning claim.
What is Lead Poisoning?
High levels of lead in the bloodstream cause
lead poisoning. If an adult or child’s level of lead in
their blood is greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood
they have high
levels of lead in their system. Lead is a metal, which was often
used in paints, gasoline, pipes and plumbing and other fixtures.
Lead poisoning can be caused by high exposures of lead, or low
exposures of lead over a long period of time. Lead is toxic to
the tissues and enzymes in your body and long-term exposure can
have devastating consequences.
To fill out a confidential form, CLICK
HERE.
back to top What is the Cause of Lead Poisoning?
The cause of lead poisoning is usually different in adults
and children. Young children are at the greatest risk for lead
poisoning due to their tendency to pick up objects and put them
in their mouth. Lead poisoning is the number one environmental
hazard for children. Children are generally exposed to lead through
peeling paint in their homes. Young children ingest the lead
through paint chips or chewing on lead paint surfaces, like windowsills.
Children also inhale dust from lead paint. Although lead paint
has been banned since 1978, homes that were built prior to 1978
still had lead paint in them. The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) estimates over 38 million homes in
the U.S. still have lead paint.
Another cause of lead poisoning is the soil and water in children’s homes.
Children ingest lead by playing in their yard and then putting their hands
or soil in their mouths. Pipes and plumbing may also be made of lead or contain
traces of lead, which will then contaminate the water that both children and
adults drink. Other less common causes of lead poisoning include lead in cosmetics,
ceramics/pottery and canned foods. In 1995 the U.S. prohibited the use of lead
in cans, however imported canned goods are not subject to that law and the
cans may still be sealed with lead.
Lead poisoning is also caused by imported goods, specifically toys. The large
majority of lead containing toys are imported from China. About 80% of toys
manufactured worldwide are made in China. In 2006 and 2007, millions of toys
were recalled due to high lead levels. Most of the toys recalled were marketed
for and used by young children. Although children have the greatest risk of
lead exposure, adults can still have lead poisoning. Adults are more commonly
exposed to lead through their jobs. Refining, smelting, manufacturing and any
jobs on older homes can all involve lead exposure. Other activities such as
stained glass and refinishing furniture may also cause lead poisoning in adults.
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HERE.
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What are the Symptoms of Lead Poisoning? Unfortunately,
lead poisoning cannot always be identified by symptoms. The best
way to tell if your child suffers from lead
poisoning is to have them tested each year. The location of where
you live may also be a factor. Most people who are exposed to
lead are lower income children living in cities. In many urban
areas, the available rental properties are not well maintained
and were built before 1978. It is important to have your children
re-tested each year, at least until they are 6 years old. Some
symptoms may occur in some children, such as:
- Irritability
- Sluggishness
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Unusual paleness
- Weight loss
- Vomiting/Nausea
- Learning difficulties
Symptoms for adults are more varied. They can
include:
- Pain, tingling or numbness in extremities
- Muscle weakness
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Memory loss
- Mood disorders
- Reproductive problems
If you or a loved one exhibits any of these
symptoms, get tested for lead poisoning immediately. Do not wait
because the effects
of lead poisoning may be irreversible depending on the level
and length of your lead exposure. Once you know you have been
exposed to lead, you can have it removed in order to prevent
further exposure and injuries. To fill out a confidential form, CLICK
HERE.
back to top What are the Effects of Lead Poisoning?
Adults and children suffer from the effects
of lead poisoning in different ways. Children, particularly those
under the age
of 6, have the greatest risk of lead poisoning because their
brains and central nervous system are still developing. Children
suffer from:
- Impaired learning and reading skills
- Deficiencies in motor
skills, hand/eye coordination and reaction time
- Lower IQ (leads
to greater risk of failure to graduate from high school)
- Behavioral
problems (ADHD, hyperactivity)
- Stunted growth
- Anemia
- Seizure
- Coma
- Mental retardation
- Brain damage
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Wrongful death
Adults suffer from reproductive problems, including
difficult pregnancies. Women who are pregnant are also at a higher
risk
because lead poisoning can affect the fetus. Pregnant women need
to be concerned about:
- Impairment of sensory-motor development
- Low birth rate
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Premature birth
The effects of lead poisoning may be irreversible.
Permanency is based on the amount of lead poisoning absorbed
into the body
and the length of time you were exposed to lead. If you or
a loved one suffered from lead poisoning, you are entitled
to compensation.
You may be able to recover for medical expenses and pain
and suffering. To fill out
a confidential form, CLICK
HERE.
back to top How is Lead Poisoning Treated?
One of the key ways of treating lead poisoning is removal or
containment of the source of lead. In low-level exposures the
removal of the lead along with a change in diet is effective.
It is best to eat foods, which are high in iron. Iron will help
absorb the lead in the body. If the case of lead poisoning is
more severe, the treatment is chelation therapy. Chelation therapy
involves taking medication, which will bind to the lead in your
body. The medicine quickens the elimination of the lead from
the body.
To fill out a confidential form, CLICK
HERE.
back to top How to Avoid Lead Poisoning?
Since the 1970s, the U.S. has successfully attempted to lower
the amount of lead that is in the environment. Lead paint and
leaded gasoline have both been banned. In 1992, the U.S. adopted
the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act. This act requires
sellers to disclose any known lead hazards to buyers of homes,
which were built prior to 1978. All states have some laws regarding
lead poisoning. Most states require landlords to disclose to
tenants the possibility of lead paint on the rental property.
Typically landlords are required to provide tenants with a pamphlet
of information about the dangers and causes of lead poisoning.
However, lead continues to be problematic because it is not biodegradable and
will not break down. Therefore, if the lead is not removed or otherwise managed,
it is still a problem. Some states have abatement (clean up) programs in place;
Rhode Island does have several different abatement plans to help remove lead
from buildings. Individual Rhode Island cities and towns are also providing
programs to educate the public about lead poisoning. In Massachusetts, any
unit or single family home with children under 6 years old living inside must
be “deleaded.” “Deleaded,” means removal or the lead
or containing the lead. The lead does not necessarily need to be removed. For
example, lead paint is not a hazard, unless it is chipping or peeling. Once
the deleading is complete, the residence will now be labeled as lead safe.
Other general tips to avoid lead poisoning are very simple:
- Make sure your children wash their hands
often, particularly after they have been outside or before
eating.
- Keep your children’s nails short.
- Wash children’s
toys, blankets and stuffed animals.
- Wash windowsills and floors
each week.
- Serve food which contains lots of iron and calcium
(iron and calcium help to prevent lead absorption in the body).
- Have
the soil and water tested for lead.
- Have your children tested
for lead annually.
MORE LEAD SAFETY INFORMATION:
Your Federal Agency: http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead
Your RI State Agency: http://www.health.state.ri.us/lead/index.php
Your MA State Agency: http://www.state.ma.us/dph/clppp/clppp.htm To fill out a confidential form, CLICK
HERE.
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Why do I Need a Lead
Poisoning Attorney?
If you or a loved one
were exposed to lead and developed lead poisoning as a result,
you are entitled to compensation. You need an attorney who can
get
you the compensation you deserve. You may have a case against your landlord
or even against the paint company. Although it was later overturned, a Rhode
Island court has held paint companies responsible for the lead paint they produced.
In 2006, the Rhode Island Superior Court found three paint manufacturers, Sherwin-Williams,
NL Industries and Millennium Holdings liable to pay $2.4 billion to clean up
contaminated homes. It is important that you contact us as soon as you find
out that your child has been poisoned. We can help you protect your rights.
For a free consultation come into one of our RI or MA locations – or
we can serve you by coming to your home. No matter where you live, feel free
to send us a contact form or call us toll free at 1-800-992-6878 for your free
initial case review. Tell them you mean business, and let the lawyers of d'Oliveira & Associates,
P.C., go to work on your behalf now!
To fill out a confidential form, CLICK HERE.
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