In what form is lead most hazardous to children?

Lead is most hazardous to children in the form of dust that can be ingested or inhaled. This is primarily because lead dust can be generated from deteriorating lead-based paint, especially in older homes built before 1978 when the use of lead in residential paint was banned in the United States. Children are particularly susceptible to lead exposure because they often engage in hand-to-mouth behavior, putting contaminated hands or objects into their mouths. When lead dust settles on surfaces, children may inadvertently ingest it through normal activities such as playing on the floor or putting toys in their mouths.

Additionally, inhalation of lead dust can occur, especially in environments where lead particles are present in the air, exacerbating the risk of exposure. This form of exposure is more concerning than lead in water, paint, or soil alone, as it reflects the complexity of everyday interactions children have with their environments.

In contrast, while lead can also be harmful when present in drinking water, paint, or soil, those forms typically do not pose as significant a risk as lead dust. For instance, lead in drinking water might not be easily accessible or consistently present in significant amounts, while paint is mostly hazardous when it deteriorates into dust. Soil contamination can also pose risks but often requires