One of the top environmental health threats to children is lead poisoning. Over time, exposure to even low levels of lead can affect a child's growth, behavior, and learning ability. Children under six years of age are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.
Lead can be inhaled from the air, absorbed though the skin, or ingested by drinking lead-contaminated water, eating fruits and vegetables grown in lead-contaminated soil, or through exposure to chips of lead-based paint.