GAUTENG. – The Gauteng Department of Health is warning communities about the dangers of lead poisoning, particularly for children and pregnant women. The warning coincides with International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs from 18 to 24 October under the theme "From detection to prevention". Lead is a toxic substance that can enter the body through contaminated dust, paint, toys and other materials. Exposure can harm children's brain development, learning ability and growth, and the effects are not always immediately visible.
Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, says the department conducts annual awareness campaigns and tests toys and paint, particularly at early childhood development centres, to identify possible sources of lead poisoning. The department also aims to expand its testing capacity with the purchase of two lead testing machines.
Although no cases of lead poisoning have been reported over the past two years in Gauteng, prevention remains important. Residents are advised to keep living spaces clean and dust-free and keep children away from toys that may contain lead and peeling paint. Workers who handle lead-containing materials must follow safety procedures and remove their contaminated clothing and shoes before entering their homes.
Anyone who suspects they or their children have been exposed to lead, or who experiences symptoms that may be related to it, should visit a clinic or community health centre. Possible sources of lead contamination can also be reported to the department's environmental health services for investigation.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
