At least half a million children in the United States have been poisoned by lead. And although it is totally preventable American children are still poisoned each day.

Lead in household paint – once marketed as durable and safe – became recognised as toxic, especially to children. It was banned in 1978, but lead paints still exist in tens of millions of older US homes.

Once it starts to flake, the paint chips and dust put lead into the air, soil and our bodies.

Children are the most susceptible to being poisoned because their bodies absorb the toxic metal at higher rates than adults.

Studies have shown that lead, especially at higher levels, can cause irreversible brain damage in children. Children who have suffered from lead poisoning are more likely to have lower IQs, long-term health problems, be diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and exhibit aggressive behaviour.