Lead Exposure In Children: The Sources That Turn Up At Home

A study published in an American paediatric journal said that young children who consistently ingest certain Indian spices and whose skin is exposed to religious powders such as 'sindoor' may be at risk of lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning in children is largely invisible until damage is done. There’s no safe level, the effects on the developing brain are permanent, and almost all of it is preventable by removing the source.

The sources that turn up in Singapore households are mostly imported, traditional or old, not local paint or petrol, which are long since regulated.

It helps to know each one, because none of them look like poison.

Traditional cosmetics and ritual powders

The highest-concentration source on this list, by a wide margin.

Kajal, kohl and surma applied around a baby’s eyes. Some imported preparations have been found to be largely lead compounds, and applying it to the eye area of an infant is a direct route in. Regulated cosmetic eyeliner sold in Singapore isn’t the same product.
Sindoor and similar ritual powders, some batches of which have tested extremely high for lead. Applied to the scalp or skin, and easily transferred to hands and then mouths.
Some imported religious and ceremonial powders generally.

If a product came from overseas, isn’t labelled with ingredients, and goes on or near a child, think again about using it, however long the family has used it.

Traditional medicines

Some traditional and herbal remedies have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic, occasionally as a deliberate ingredient, sometimes from contamination. This has been documented in preparations from several traditions, and the risk is highest with unlabelled products bought informally or brought back from abroad.

Don’t give a child any imported traditional remedy without knowing what’s in it, and tell your doctor about anything you do give. That’s especially important if a child has unexplained anaemia, abdominal pain or developmental concerns.

Spices

Lead contamination has been found in some imported ground spices, turmeric in particular, where lead compounds have been used to brighten colour, and also in some batches of other ground spices and mixes.

This is a supply-chain contamination issue, not a property of the food. Turmeric isn’t dangerous; some adulterated turmeric has been. Practical steps:

Buy from established retailers with proper labelling and traceable brands
Be more cautious with loose, unlabelled spices brought back in luggage
Whole spices ground at home remove the adulteration route entirely

Other sources

Paint in buildings from before the 1990s, especially where it’s peeling or being sanded during renovation. Plan around renovating an older property with a small child in it.
Glazed ceramics and pewter from informal sources, used for food or drink. Decorative glazes aren’t always food-safe.
Imported toys and jewellery without safety marking, particularly cheap metal costume jewellery, which children mouth.
Some imported sweets and their wrappers.
A parent’s occupation can bring dust home on clothes and shoes: battery work, soldering, metal recycling, some construction.

What it looks like

Usually nothing, which is the problem. Lead exposure is typically asymptomatic until levels are high, and by then the effects on learning, attention and behaviour are established and not reversible.

Where symptoms do appear: irritability, tiredness, poor appetite, abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, unexplained anaemia, developmental delay or loss of skills.

Unexplained anaemia that doesn’t respond to iron is a particular signal to mention to a doctor.

What to do

Remove the source first. Everything else is secondary.
Ask for a blood lead test if there’s been a known exposure or your child has unexplained symptoms. It’s a simple blood test and a doctor can arrange it.
Wash hands before eating, and wash toys and dummies. Hand-to-mouth transfer is the main route for young children.
Wet-mop instead of sweeping if there’s any renovation dust in the home.
Iron and calcium in the diet reduce how much lead the body absorbs, so a child with good iron status is somewhat protected.
Run taps briefly before drinking if the plumbing is old.

One qualification

This subject gets reported in a way that attaches risk to a cuisine or a community, which is both unfair and unhelpful. The issue is unregulated supply chains and specific adulterated products, not Indian food, not traditional medicine as a category, and not any group of people.

This applies to everyone: know what’s in things that go into or onto a small child, buy from traceable sources, and be more careful with unlabelled products brought in from elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main sources of lead exposure for children here?

Traditional eye cosmetics such as kajal, kohl and surma, and ritual powders such as sindoor, which can be very high in lead; some imported traditional and herbal remedies; some adulterated imported ground spices; paint in pre-1990s buildings, especially during renovation; unmarked imported toys and costume jewellery; and dust brought home from certain occupations.

Are Indian spices dangerous?

No, but some imported ground spices have been found adulterated with lead compounds, turmeric among them, where lead has been used to brighten colour. That’s a supply-chain problem, not a property of the food. Buy traceable brands from established retailers, be cautious with loose unlabelled spices brought back in luggage, and grinding whole spices at home removes the risk entirely.

Is kajal safe for babies?

Traditional imported kajal, kohl and surma preparations have been found to be largely lead compounds, and applying them around an infant’s eyes is a direct route in. Regulated cosmetic eyeliner sold in Singapore is a different product. This is the highest-concentration source on the list.

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning in children?

Usually none until levels are high, so it’s dangerous. By the time effects on learning, attention and behaviour appear they’re established and not reversible. Where symptoms occur: irritability, tiredness, poor appetite, abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, unexplained anaemia, or loss of developmental skills. Anaemia that doesn’t respond to iron is a particular signal.

How do I get my child tested?

Ask your doctor for a blood lead test if there’s been a known exposure or unexplained symptoms. It’s a straightforward blood test.

What reduces the risk?

Removing the source first. Everything else is secondary. Then handwashing before eating, washing toys and dummies, wet-mopping instead of sweeping any renovation dust, and keeping iron and calcium intake good, since both reduce how much lead the body absorbs.

The main points

The highest-risk items are traditional eye cosmetics and ritual powders applied to babies: some are largely lead.

Then unlabelled imported remedies, adulterated ground spices, and pre-1990s paint during renovation.

There are usually no symptoms until damage is done. Remove the source, ask for a blood test after a known exposure, and keep their iron up. It reduces absorption.