A Good Explanation about Lead Poisoning
The Environmental Protection Agency offers many fact sheets on lead poisonng and other environmental Concerns in it's Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics (OPPT). It contains all the legislation you would need to know as well as formal fact sheets and awarness brochures that could be useful to secondary students. The OPPT has an excellent Student center with articles written for the younger student. Games like crossword puzzles and word finds that can be printed and used in conjuction with reading education, are available from the Environmental Health Center, a division of the National Safety Council, yet another Government funded outfit that provides information on Environmental Contaminants..
The National Center for Environmental Health also has extensive information on lead poisoning available. It's site contains fact sheets but also listing of published journal articles and case studies, and a comprhensive article on lead levels in children.
Of course if any lead were suspected in a home, classroom, or playground, the proper precautions must be made to ensure it is cleaned properly. So where do you start if you think you suspect the presence of Lead? An excellent website that provides listings of qualified lead handling professionals is available. They will assist the consumer with finding the right people to facilitate any testing needed.
There are books available on toxins and their affect on the human body. Lead is a Silent Hazard by Richard M. Stapleton is available at most bookstores. Amazon.com lists over fifty books on the topic of lead poisoning and even more on Asthma, the search engin on their site allows for easy acces to books on specific topics. Breathe Easy: Young People's Guide to Asthma by Jonathan H. Weiss, Ph.D, is an excellent book for children with asthma to understand their problem and how to live with it, as well as for children without asthma to understand the seriousness of the problem. I found this book in the childrens' health section at a local Barnes and Nobles bookstore.
Besides Lead poisoning, asthma is the other condition that puts students at risk. Although it is not often considered a condition that limits the educational process, severe asthma, can be caused and irritated by environmental factors, and can make anything difficult for a student, especially sitting in a stuffy classroom. In my searches, The Respiratory Institute offers the best information about asthma. It also has an Emergency Plan that is printable and a great idea to keep on hand for any students with this or any condition.
Finally, while most educators are aware that almost anything can be hazardous, not everyone knows how to find out for sure. Almost any substance readily available in this country, has been identified on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). You will not find an MSDS for Elmer's Glue, but you will find an MSDS for just about any substances in it. MSDS's list all possible hazards, fire, toxicity, etc., and what to do and whom to call for exposures, spills, or other emergencies. Most industrial settings require them at all times, I've even had to carry one for bottled water while working in a power plant (read my bio on the home page for details on that!), our schools should be at least that safe.