Pregnancy and Lead

Are you concerned about lead in drinking water? If so, click here for more information.

Lead stored in your body can be released from your bones and passed to your unborn child.
Possible affects on your unborn child may include:

• Damage to the developing brain
• Being born too soon
• Slowed growth
• Learning and behavior problems

Possible affects of lead to a pregnant woman:

• High blood pressure
• Miscarriage

Consumer goods and products can be a source of lead exposure.  Commonly imported items containing lead are: ayurvedic medicine, folk medicines, cosmetics (such as Sindoor and Kumkum), toys, glazed pottery, spices (such as curry powder and turmeric) or other food items. Even consumer goods produced in the US can be recalled due to lead content.  In addition, just because a product says that it was packaged in the US does not mean it was manufactured here and could possibly be a source of lead.  To check product recalls please visit:

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls – for non-food consumer goods: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/

Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Recalls – for food products: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

• CDC: Lead
  
• EPA: Lead
• Foreign Products Which May Contain Lead
• HUD: Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
• Lead Source Guide
• Licensed Lead Abatement Contractors
• Licensed Lead Risk Assessors and Lead Inspectors
• National Center for Healthy Housing

Lead Poisoning Prevention Act

Lead Poisoning Prevention Code

Lead Poisoning Prevention Code (Printer Friendly)

• Breastfeeding and Lead Algorithm
• Children and Lead Booklet
• Foreign Products Which May Contain Lead - Handout
• Lead and Pregnancy (en Español)
• Lead Cleaning Checklist
• Lead Source Guide - Handout
• Lead Testing Recommendations for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• Pregnant Women & Lead Poisoning (en Español)
• Prenatal Lead Risk Evaluation Questionnaire (PLRQ) Algorithm