T – Teeth

Lead is a normal part of the earth’s crust with trace amounts found naturally in soil, plants, and water. If left undisturbed, lead is practically immobile. However, once mined and transformed into man made products, lead becomes highly toxic.  

The two main sources of lead poisoning for children in America are paint and leaded gasoline. Lead is stored in the teeth and bones, where it can accumulate over time. Childhood lead poisoning was first described in 1892 in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. A.J. Turner at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital diagnosed several children with lead intoxication who had been previously diagnosed with meningitis. 

Childhood lead poisoning was first reported in America in 1914. Boston Children’s Hospital neurologist, Dr. Randolph Byers and psychologist Elizabeth Lord conducted detailed psychometric evaluations of 20 children who were reported to have previously had lead poisoning. They found that 19 of the 20 children also had behavior disorders or intellectual impairment.  

Dr. Byer’s studies were the first to link environmental lead exposure to long-term cognitive disorders in children. Lead paint was banned in the United States in 1970 and in 1991, the CDC enacted a strategic plan to prevent childhood lead toxicity. This was a historic moment in lead poisoning prevention.