Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

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Why are young children especially at risk for lead exposure?

Their bodies absorb lead more readily than adults
Lead poisoning is more common in urban areas
Children do not retain lead as long as adults
They often have lower dietary intake of calcium

The correct answer is: Their bodies absorb lead more readily than adults

Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure due to their higher absorption rates of lead compared to adults. Their developing bodies and brains are in a critical growth phase, and they have a greater gastrointestinal absorption efficiency for the metals, meaning that when exposed to lead, their bodies can take in more of it relative to the amount they are exposed to. Additionally, children are more likely to engage in behaviors that increase their risk of exposure, such as putting objects in their mouths and playing in contaminated environments. This combination of physiological factors and behavioral patterns makes lead exposure especially concerning in this age group. While factors like urban environments and dietary choices can influence lead exposure risk, they do not explain the intrinsic biological susceptibility of young children to absorb and suffer ill effects from lead as significantly as their enhanced absorption rates do.