What is the most common way for children to get lead poisoning?

The most common way for children to get lead poisoning is through ingestion. This primarily occurs when children ingest lead dust or paint chips that have deteriorated from surfaces in older homes, particularly those built before 1978 when lead-based paints were widely used. Children are naturally curious and often put their hands, which may have lead dust on them, into their mouths. This behavior significantly increases the risk of lead exposure.

Ingestion is especially dangerous in children because their developing bodies are more sensitive to toxic substances, and they are more likely to absorb lead into their bloodstream than adults. The ingestion of contaminated soil, dust, or paint is much more prevalent in young children, making this the most critical pathway for lead exposure as they explore their environments.

Other methods of exposure, like inhalation or skin absorption, are less common for children in this context. Inhalation might occur in settings with leaded fumes, but this is unlikely for the typical child in a residential environment. Skin absorption is also not a significant route for lead exposure compared to ingestion, and injection is not a common way for lead to enter the body in everyday situations. Understanding this pathway helps in formulating prevention strategies to protect children from lead poisoning.