Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Lead exposure in children can affect learning, behavior and development, but knowing where lead exposure can occur and how to prevent it can help protect children. In this episode of Kids Considered, pediatricians Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis Children’s Hospital discuss lead exposure and lead poisoning in children, including common sources of lead, who is at risk, and the potential effects of elevated blood lead levels on children’s health and development.
Dr. van der List and Dr. Blumberg also explain when children should be screened for lead exposure, how lead levels are tested, ways parents can reduce their child’s risk of lead exposure, and what treatment is available when a child has an elevated blood lead level. Kids Considered is a podcast from UC Davis Children’s Hospital featuring pediatricians discussing common questions about children’s health.
This episode written by Drs. van der List and Blumberg. It originally posted on 4/11/25.
Additional resources:
CDPH - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/CLPPBhome.aspx
Steps to Protect Your Family From Lead Exposure: healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Lead-Screening-for-Children.aspx
Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity: publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/1/e20161493/52600/Prevention-of-Childhood-Lead-Toxicity?autologincheck=redirected
——
Kids Considered™ is a UC Davis Children’s Hospital podcast, featuring two pediatricians who discuss child health topics of interest to parents in plain, non-medical language. New subjects are considered in every episode, discussing issues that apply from healthy pregnancy to birth to teen years. We have different styles of practice and viewpoints, but our goals are the same: we want to optimize children’s health and development, and help parents understand current recommendations and why policies are the way they are. Hosted by Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg.
Kids Considered blog: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/kids-considered
UC Davis Children's Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Instagram: instagram.com/kidsconsidered
Twitter/X: twitter.com/kidsconsidered
——
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Risk of lead exposure for kids
2:49 Who should get screened for lead exposure?
4:19 Sources of lead exposure
6:58 What effect does lead have on child development?
9:08 How to prevent lead exposure
10:46 What to do after lead exposure
13:53 Experiences with treating lead exposure
16:23 Conclusion
#lead #leadexposure #childdevelopment #kidsconsidered #ucdavis
Lead exposure in children can affect learning, behavior and development, but knowing where lead exposure can occur and how to prevent it can help protect children. In this episode of Kids Considered, pediatricians Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis Children’s Hospital discuss lead exposure and lead poisoning in children, including common sources of lead, who is at risk, and the potential effects of elevated blood lead levels on children’s health and development.
Dr. van der List and Dr. Blumberg also explain when children should be screened for lead exposure, how lead levels are tested, ways parents can reduce their child’s risk of lead exposure, and what treatment is available when a child has an elevated blood lead level. Kids Considered is a podcast from UC Davis Children’s Hospital featuring pediatricians discussing common questions about children’s health.
This episode written by Drs. van der List and Blumberg. It originally posted on 4/11/25.
Additional resources:
CDPH - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/CLPPBhome.aspx
Steps to Protect Your Family From Lead Exposure: healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Lead-Screening-for-Children.aspx
Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity: publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/1/e20161493/52600/Prevention-of-Childhood-Lead-Toxicity?autologincheck=redirected
——
Kids Considered™ is a UC Davis Children’s Hospital podcast, featuring two pediatricians who discuss child health topics of interest to parents in plain, non-medical language. New subjects are considered in every episode, discussing issues that apply from healthy pregnancy to birth to teen years. We have different styles of practice and viewpoints, but our goals are the same: we want to optimize children’s health and development, and help parents understand current recommendations and why policies are the way they are. Hosted by Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg.
Kids Considered blog: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/kids-considered
UC Davis Children's Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Instagram: instagram.com/kidsconsidered
Twitter/X: twitter.com/kidsconsidered
——
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Risk of lead exposure for kids
2:49 Who should get screened for lead exposure?
4:19 Sources of lead exposure
6:58 What effect does lead have on child development?
9:08 How to prevent lead exposure
10:46 What to do after lead exposure
13:53 Experiences with treating lead exposure
16:23 Conclusion
#lead #leadexposure #childdevelopment #kidsconsidered #ucdavis
