46 — Friday, July 5, 1996 — North Shore News

~ Mini-b!

PARENTS hustling their kids to’
the doctor after a recent Health
Canada warning about mini-blinds
may be putting too much faith in
blood tests, warns a local nurse.
Staff at Metro-McNair Laboratories
-on Lonsdale Avenue have noticed a
marked increase in the number of chil-
dren having their biood lead levels test-
ed since the warning about lead content
in cheap, plastic mini blinds was issued
‘last. Tuesday. But registered nurse

ind saga

Nancy Hallaway said the blood tests
are misleading.

‘“A blood test will tell you about
recent exposure to lead,” said
Hallaway, who also co-authored a book
about the danger heavy metals pose to
children. >

“But it's not going to tell you what
has accurwulated in target tissue areas,”
she added. “ft’s not a good test for
chronic toxicity.”

When the blinds disintegrate in sun-
light they form a dust containing lead.

continues

Ingesting the dust over a a long period of
time can contribute to developmental
problems in young children.

Hallaway said there are better meth-
ods to check for chronic toxicity.
including a hair tesi.

But parents can first check the lead
level of their blinds with a kit to dis-
cover if their concern merits a trip to
the doctor.

The kits are available at various
North Shore hardware stores.

~—- Deana Lancaster

jou 68%

_ SLEEPER STROLLER

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Copyright 1996.