Q: I know that lead poisoning causes brain damage and developmental problems in children. And a Washington Post article pointed out that Freddie Grey, whose death after being in police custody sparked the Baltimore riots, and his siblings were childhood victims of lead poisoning. Why isn't cleaning up lead paint pollution more of a priority in our country, especially in urban areas? - Frank G., Baltimore
A: Like you, we thought the Washington Post article shined a spotlight on an issue that needs to be addressed with more urgency. It outlined a lawsuit that Grey's family brought against their landlord several years ago for health problems their children developed from lead poisoning.
Studies show that exposure even to low levels of dust from lead paint (found in homes built before 1978) can affect a child's cognitive function irreparably - and it doesn't stop there. It also can affect cardiovascular health and the endocrine and immune systems and cause aggressive behavior. In fact, a kid with lead poisoning is seven times more likely to drop out of school and six times more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system than a lead-free child, according to the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.
It's hard to say how many kids are affected, because we now realize that blood levels as low as 5 mcg per deciliter can cause brain damage (we used to think it took four times that), so a lot of suffering kids were overlooked. But today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are at least 4 million households with children who are being exposed to high levels of lead. That's more than 4 million children who may have their futures stolen from them.
No child should have to suffer the terrible consequences of exposure to lead paint dust, and we urge all of you to write to your legislators asking them to put more money into remediation of toxic houses and apartments.
Q: My wife had a miscarriage and she's sure she did something wrong. What can I tell her to make her feel less guilty? - Steve K., Chicago
A: We're very sorry to hear that you and your wife experienced a miscarriage. Statistically though, miscarriage usually happens only once, and most women who miscarry can go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
There are so many mistaken ideas about miscarriage. For example, you may think that miscarriages are unusual, since most people don't talk about them. But while about 15 percent of pregnancies that a woman is aware of end in miscarriage, the March of Dimes says about 50 percent of all pregnancies do miscarry, at a very early stage.
That's because about 60 percent of the time, a miscarriage is the body's natural way of reacting to chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus; other triggers are endocrine or autoimmune problems. A miscarriage is the body's hard-wired ability to assure that most babies will be healthy when born.
Unfortunately, according to a new survey published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, most folks don't understand the cause of miscarriage. As many as 76 percent of people said acute stress could trigger a miscarriage, while 74 percent blamed persistent stress; and 64 percent thought lifting heavy objects could be the cause. Other MISTAKEN ideas about the causes included past sexually transmitted infections, past abortions, past use of an intrauterine device or other birth control and even not wanting the pregnancy.
The study also reveals that among those who had a miscarriage, more than one-third thought they could have prevented it; 41 percent said they felt they did something wrong; and almost half felt guilty. All those mistaken ideas about what triggers a miscarriage lead to guilt and regret that isn't called for.
So, we hope this will help assure you and your wife that she's not to blame and that you can both look forward to the healthy family that you want.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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