Producer:
The U.S. Surgeon General established the Division of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) within the National Institutes of Health in 1966.
The Division was elevated to full NIH institute status in 1969. The mission of the NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease.
Content:
Description–Explains what lead is, where it exists in the environment, and how it affects children and adults.
Health Studies & Clinical Trials–Description of Treatment of Lead-Exposed Children conducted between 1994 and 1997, with a follow-up in 2000.
What NIEH Is Doing on Lead–NIEH-funded studies on lead. Topics are diverse and include: Calcium supplements lower blood lead in nursing mothers; Changes in blood lead levels caused by retained bullets from gunshot wounds; Lead accumulation may cause cataracts; Lead and breast milk; Lead-induced learning impairment reversed by environmental enrichment; Low levels of lead and IQ deficits.
General Information–Evaluating Chemicals: Is it safe? (video from the Toxicology Education Foundation in English and Spanish); Environmental Diseases from A to Z; Environews by Topic-Lead; Lead and Your Health; Lead – How it Affects Your Body and Your Health.
For Educators–Lesson plans on lead toxicity geared toward grades 9–12 in PDF format. Topics include: Arsenic and Lead Scavenger Hunt; Getting the Lead Out; Lead and Mercury – Comparing Two Environmental Evils; Mother's Milk – Unleaded Please; Toxic Tic-Tac-Toe; Using Chemistry to Treat Lead Poisoning.
Related Topics–Air Pollution; Children's Health; Consumer Health Links – Hazardous Substances; Hazardous Material/Wastes.
Search Options:
Navigation bars on the top and left of the page. NIEH search box at the top of the page.
Audience:
General public; Educators.
Noteworthy Items:
Large print format available. Includes multimedia links. Printable PDF documents. Available in English and Spanish.