Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 1 parent parent parent ••••••••••••••••• & family parent parent fredericksburg parent parent ™ Ask the Expert Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center • • FredericksburgParent.NET • • Volume 27, No. 6 • June 2026 Summer Swimming Smart Lead Poisoning WRITTEN BY CAMILLE TURNER What is lead, and how does lead poisoning affect one's health? Lead is a toxic metal found naturally in the environment that can disrupt the normal func oning of vital organs, including the kidneys, muscles and brain. Unlike many other harmful substances that the body can process and eliminate more quickly, lead accumulates in the body over me and is removed very slow- ly once it enters the system. While anyone can be harmed by lead, children under the age of six are most vulnerable to nega ve health effects a er lead exposure, which can lead to damage in the brain and nervous system, as well as issues with hearing, speech, learning and a en on that may have las ng effects over me. Not only are young children s ll growing and developing, but they are also more prone to ge ng lead into their systems because of their curious nature. "Children are always crawling around on their hands and knees, ge ng into things and pu ng their hands and other objects in their mouths," said Janine Kerr, child- Preventing Poisoning: Families to Know Sources Lead-based paint Lead Preventing WRITTEN BY CAMILLE TURNER What is lead, and how does lead poisoning affect one's health? Lead is a toxic metal found naturally in the environment that can disrupt the normal func oning of vital organs, including the kidneys, muscles and brain. Unlike many other harmful substances that the body can process and eliminate more quickly, lead accumulates in the body over me and is removed very slow- ly once it enters the system. While anyone can be harmed by lead, children under the age of six are most vulnerable to nega ve health effects a er lead exposure, which can lead to damage in the brain and nervous system, as well as issues with hearing, speech, learning and a en on that may have las ng effects over me. Not only are young children s ll growing and developing, but they are also more prone to ge ng lead into their systems because of their curious nature. "Children are always crawling around on their hands and knees, ge ng into things Preventing Lead Poisoning: What Families Need to Know parent parent & parent & parent & parent & parent parent ••••••••••••••••• parent & parent ••••••••••••••••• parent ••••••••••••••••• & ••••••••••••••••• parent ••••••••••••••••• parent & parent ••••••••••••••••• parent & parent & parent family family parent family parent parent

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