Abstract Around the World and in the United States, actions have been taken to reduce, control and clean up the volume of Lead so that to prevent Lead-related illnesses among humans. Lead exposure is seen to affect a child’s development process and some behavioral aspects. The study seeks to determine the effect of indoor Lead exposure to children under the age of 12 years. This study undertakes a secondary desk-review research methodology to obtain knowledge from previous researches.

The study establishes that children are exposed to Lead through consumption of water at homestead or/and at the school where the drinking water is distributed through old Lead plumbing components. The reviewed literature also establishes that children under the age of 6 years exhibited a higher Blood Lead Level (BLL) compared to those above six years. Therefore children under 6 years are more susceptible to health effects than those above 6 years.

Health Effects of Indoor Lead Exposure in Children Aged Below 12 Years

Introduction

Lead (Lb) is a malleable, soft, and ductile metal in the scientific periodic table (Salisbury, pp. 25). As a metal, Lead has scientifically been established to be toxic and many of its uses have been discontinued and/or prohibited through lawful actions. It is however notable that there are areas where its use has continued and in some area, it is manufactured either legally or illegally. Some of its legal uses are owed to its malleability, softness, or conductivity to produce soldering wires, electric cables, electrical parts and shielding radiation (Morse, et. al., pp. 711). Lead is found deep in the earth’s crust and its extraction is through mining. The activities of extracting Lead for production purposes have been blamed to pollute the water resource as well as cause destruction to the ecosystem (Hanna-Attisha, pp. 285). Lead becomes harmful to humans once it is exposed to the environment through skin contact with dust containing Lead, the air humans breathe or water they consume (Hanna-Attisha, pp. 286).

Background

Health effects arising from indoor Lead exposers are majorly attributed to the reliance on old plumbing materials that release Lead as they begin to corrode. Requirements stipulated by the by the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act, require that all new homes built using Lead-free plumbing components. It is however notable that despite the efforts taken to cut down new exposure to Lead through water piping, nothing has been done to the old impoverished houses and institutions like schools and hospitals (Salisbury, pp. 29). This study notes the regulation on the use of Lead to manufacturing household plumbing components and the general manufacturing of Lead came into force between the early 1970s through to late l980s. The regulation is ideal to reduce the occurrence of Lead-related health effects, through exposure to Lead plumbing components.

According to (Hanna-Attisha, pp. 286), a higher risk of Lead poisoning is observed where the water stays for a long period of time without being used and then, it is consumed at a high rate. This scenario highlights the plight of old schools where Lead plumbing components were used during construction and no changes have been made. The study by...

288), observes that in the US such cases contribute to between 10-20% of the health cases related to Lead exposure.
Optimal growth and development of humans are critical at the tender ages below 12 years. At this age, a child has the highest potential to grow and develop various faculties of their body including the brain, physical strength, body organ development, and behavior. The potential exposure to negative health affect will compromise their growth and development and thus limit their attainment of ideal optimal maturity. There is need therefore to establish whether there are any effects of indoor Lead exposures to children under the age of 12 years and assess the ideal remedies. This study aims to determine the effect of indoor Lead exposure to children under the age of 12 years and assess the ideal remedies.

Hypotheses

H1: Children are not at risk of being exposed to Lead through Lead-contaminated water in old homes and schools.

H2: Children are at a risk of being exposed to Lead through Lead-contaminated water in old homes and schools.

Study Methodology

This study undertakes a secondary desk-review research methodology to obtain knowledge from previous researches. According to (Burgess, pp. 251), secondary desk-review research methodology entails the review of researches undertaken previously. The current study identifies three research studies undertaken in three different areas of the United States where children are exposed to high levels of Lead.

Limitations of the Study

The study is limited to desk research review therefore, results will be derived from the affirming the finding previous different researches in relation to the current study’s objective.

The study is also limited to information relating to home and school Lead exposures to children under the age of 2 years.

Literature Review

(Hanna-Attisha, pp. 286), compared the blood Lead level (BLL) in children 5 years and below data provided at the Hurley Medical Center. The data provided relates to a period where an old water source was being used and after the water source was sourced at the Flint River. Children living outside the city of Flint with a water source that did not change were used as a comparison group in this study. The data retrieved was broken down into groups correlating to different areas of the city of Flint and compared to the water Lead levels taken in each area. In the study, out of the children sampled living in Flint prior to the water source change 2.4% had an Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL) and following the water source change that number rose to 4.9% (Hanna-Attisha, pp. 287). This data was compared to levels taken from children living in cities outside of Flint and there was no real change.

The study by (Hanna Attisha, pp. 288) looked at the type of plumbing found in homes and monitored them to see what impact they had on Lead levels in drinking water. Of all the homes observes Lead service lines were found in 45 homes and the rest were split between copper and galvanized pipe. Lead concentrations above .05 mg/l were found in half the homes with Lead service lines and about ¼ of the homes without Lead servicing lines also…