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Lead Gets in the Body in Many Ways <br />Childhood <br />lead <br />poisoning <br />remains a <br />major <br />environmen- <br />tal health <br />problem in <br />the U.S. <br />Even children <br />who appear <br />healthy can <br />have danger- <br />ous levels of <br />lead in their <br />bodies. <br />People can get lead in their body if they: <br />♦ Breathe in lead dust (especially during <br />renovations that disturb painted <br />surfaces). <br />♦ Put their hands or other objects <br />covered with lead dust in their mouths. <br />♦ Eat paint chips or soil that contains <br />lead. <br />Lead is even more dangerous to children <br />under the age of 6: <br />♦ At this age children's brains and nervous <br />systems are more sensitive to the dam- <br />aging effects of lead. <br />'► Children's growing bodies absorb more <br />lead. <br />♦ Babies and young children often put <br />their hands and other objects in their <br />mouths. These objects can have lead <br />dust on them. <br />Lead is also dangerous to women of <br />childbearing age: <br />♦ Women with a high lead level in their <br />system prior to pregnancy would expose <br />a fetus to lean through the nlarenta <br />