Treatment of high blood lead levels (BLL)
When you have been diagnosed with a high BLL, the best thing to do is remove the lead
source. Medical treatments for high lead levels are only useful in situations when lead levels
are very high. Fortunately these situations are now very rare in Western Australia. Depending
on how you have been exposed to lead you will be assisted by your doctor and the
environmental health department in reducing your exposure. This leaflet is about what you and
your family can do to lower your child’s blood lead levels.
Hand washing
Lead often enters the body through ingestion of tiny lead particles on the hand. Regular hand
washing especially before meals will help reduce the amount of lead that gets into the body.
Lead may also accumulate on toys, pets and surfaces. Regularly washing toys and pets and
cleaning stairs, floors and window sills will help reduce the amount of lead that enters the
body.
Changes around the house
Make sure children and pregnant women are away when lead-based paint is being removed or
during renovations made to houses built before 1970. They may return when the work is
complete and the place has been cleaned.
Remove bare soil from children’s play area.
Healthy eating
A healthy diet rich in iron, calcium and vitamin C will help reduce the amount of lead absorbed
into the blood.
Dietary sources of iron include vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lentils, peas, beans; dried
fruits such as apricots, prunes, and dates; iron fortified cereals and wheat germ; meat,
especially liver; fresh or frozen fish; and eggs.
Dietary sources of calcium include vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, spinach, kale,
mustard greens and bok choi; fruits such as oranges, pineapples, raisins, fortified orange juice;
dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt; fresh or frozen fish such as sardines, clams,
mussels, oysters, crabs, lobster, anchovies, mackerel, tuna, salmon and shrimp.
Dietary sources of vitamin C include fruits such as orange, grapefruit and strawberries; and
vegetables such as broccoli, greens, and green capsicum.