How can lead-based paint expose children to lead?

Lead-based paint poses a significant health risk to children, primarily through ingestion. Children are often exposed when they chew on painted toys and furnishings or eat paint peelings from walls.1

Because lead is a toxic chemical element that accumulates in the body over time, even small amounts can be dangerous. This is particularly critical for children under the age of six, as their nervous system and brain are still developing. Exposure can lead to permanent damage, including learning disabilities, slowed growth, and other severe health complications.21

It is a fundamental ethical imperative to protect children from such preventable environmental hazards. Eliminating contact with lead sources is the primary method for preventing lead poisoning, and the historical reduction of lead in paint pigments has been a crucial step in mitigating this risk.21