High Lead Levels Found in Car Seats

Carrie Strasser

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The New York Times reported this morning that the family car has been linked to increased lead contamination resulting in lead poisoning among children. Last year in Maine, six babies and toddlers were found to have extremely high levels of lead in their blood. However, when public health workers tested the family homes, they found no traces of lead there and they found minimal traces in some decks and outdoor areas. But when those workers tested the family cars, they found alarmingly high levels of lead.

“We consider levels of 40 micrograms per square foot an elevated level for floors, which are a contact area for kids,” said Tina Bernier, an environmental specialist for Maine’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. “Some of the numbers in the car seats were in the 400 range, and it went up to 1,000 in other areas of the cars.”

The parents of many of these children worked in jobs where they renovated old buildings and had been removing paint from these buildings. Three of those parents worked for the same painting contractor who did not provide showers or places to change clothes before leaving work, which is required.

To read the report in full, click here.

For more information about toxic substances in the home, click here.