Run by

The LEAD Group Inc
The Lead Education and Abatement Design Group
Working to eliminate lead poisoning globally and to protect the
environment from lead in all its uses: past, current and new uses
ABN 25 819 463 114
Australians! Take action
today. Is lead harming
you & your kids? Buy low
cost, NATA accredited
laboratory lead test kits
here. Sample your dust,
soil, water, paint, toys,
jewellery, ceramics
what's new 

Water Lead test Kits

Proceeds from our DIY Home Lead Assessment kit sales go towards the
Keeping Australian Lead Out of Leaded Petrol Initiative.

About Us
bell system lead poisoning
Contact Us
Council Lead Project
egroups
Library-Fact Sheets
Home Page
Media Releases
Newsletters
Q&A
Referral Lists
Reports
Site Map
Slide Shows-Films
Subscribe-Donate
Useful Links

Visitor Number

QUESTION: Is a cot of unknown age, with flaking paint, a lead risk for 4 yr old? 06/02/09   New South Wales, Australia

Hi just got a concern here and need your help.

My son is 4 now. Some of the paint of his cot which he still sleeps in is flaked off, and the wood just show out. And also he likes to push his car along the handrail of his cot, which causes scratches of the paint. After reading the information from this website, I'm so worries about this.

Is there any risk of lead exposure, or does he need blood lead test? and where can we get the test done? do appreciate your response.

ANSWER: February 6 2009

Hi Jennifer,

a child can be lead poisoned by paint from a cot if the following happens:

- the child eats the paint

- and the paint contains lead (more is obviously worse)

You have not reported that your child has eaten any of the cot paint (and since you told me on the phone that your house was built in 1998 and is therefore very unlikely to contain lead paint) so the best test to do is a laboratory analysis of the cot paint for lead. If the result is over 0.06% then you would ask your GP for a blood lead test if you thought that your child had actually ingested any of the lead paint. If you think your child has not ingested any of the cot paint then it is not worth worrying about, given the very likely low levels of lead in your child's home environment. You can always ask for a blood lead test to be done whenever your child is having blood taken for any other reason, if you want to be sure that you are providing a lead-safe environment. From the sounds of it, you don't have a child with pica (the tendency to eat non-food items) and you likely don't have much lead in your house. You should go out and celebrate your good fortune!!

All the best

Yours Sincerely

Elizabeth O'Brien

About Us | bell system lead poisoning | Contact Us | Council LEAD Project | egroups | Library - Fact Sheets | Home Page | Media Releases
Newsletters
| Q & A | Referral lists | Reports | Site Map | Slide Shows - Films | Subscription | Useful LinksSearch this Site

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer

Last Updated 13 April 2013
Copyright © The LEAD Group Inc. 1991- 2013
PO Box 161 Summer Hill NSW 2130 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9716 0014