It wasn't the news about toy recalls that had her worried, but the paint in the apartment building she and her husband manage near Trolley Square in Salt Lake City.

"We live in a really, really old building," said Foulon. "They repainted it about 10 years ago, brought everything up to code. . . . But the concern was in the back of our heads."

Like most kids in Utah, Eliza's blood level of lead are just fine. But unlike most kids, she has the test results to prove it. Many children aren't tested routinely, even if they live in an older home or apartment where old paint containing lead poses a risk.

"I don't think we have this huge problem with lead poisoning," said Robert Ford, manager of the state Division of Air Quality section that oversees lead-based paint. "The thing that is a concern to me is that we may not have a good handle on how many kids are exposed or have elevated blood levels. [The testing] just doesn't happen."

According to the state Health Department, 3,806 Utah children were tested for lead in 2005, the most recent data available. Of those, 67 had elevated levels in their blood.

Flaking paint in homes built before 1978 is the leading source of ingested lead in children. A parent's occupation can also pose risks. Toys have rarely been the culprit, but there have been cases.

Lead finds its way into children's bodies through "a whole arsenal of idiosyncratic" pathways, said Susan Spence, a public-health nurse who tracks lead-poisoned children for Salt Lake County.

Among the sources of lead Spence has encountered: a toy from a kids' meal at a fast-food restaurant, a rock, a "What Would Jesus Do?" necklace that its teen wearer habitually sucked on, and a collectible toy car.

How much exposure to a single toy - or chewing time - it takes to poison a kid is hard to say, said Spence. "There are lots of variables. It depends on whether the child is anemic or how much he or she had to eat before swallowing the paint."

As for treatment, it's all about "keeping kids and lead away from each other," said Spence. "That, matched with lessons in nutrition and hygiene."

Chelation therapy, a drug treatment to remove lead from the body, has been prescribed for only two Salt Lake County children in two years, said Spence.

Though rare in Utah, lead poisoning can have dangerous consequences. High levels can cause long-term problems, such as developmental delays, hearing loss, seizures and coma, kidney problems, anemia, and growth problems.

Infants and toddlers are more vulnerable because they are more likely to put toys and hands in their mouths, or come into contact with dust on floors. But poisoning may not be diagnosed until they reach school age, when learning or behavioral problems may become more obvious, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Barbara Insley Crouch, director of the Utah Poison Center, said she hasn't heard of an increase in calls from worried parents since the toy recalls began. But if parents have concerns, there are things they can do.

"If you haven't had a blood-lead concentration test, then get one. It's not an emergency. At the next well-child checkup, talk to the pediatrician and order a blood test," she said.

The AAC recommends that all children living in homes built before 1950 be tested.

Parents who are worried about toys can consult the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission web site at www.cpsc.gov for the latest on recalls.

Families that are planning a remodeling or repair project can contact the ATLAS section at the Division of Air Quality at 801-536-4000. Staff there can arrange for testing, provide names of contractors certified to remove lead-based paint, and discuss ways to minimize exposure during work.

"If they have questions about lead-based paint and what to do about it, we'll spend as much time on the phone as they want," said Ford.

Crouch would like to remind parents not to worry too much, though.

"You and I growing up probably had lead concentrations in our blood. Some people have a zero-tolerance [for any level of lead in the blood]. That doesn't quite make sense to me," said Crouch, who said there is no definitive answer on what levels of lead are unsafe or on when permanent damage occurs.

"There are sources we need to be concerned about. Routine screening makes sense to me, but not the panic," she said.

Lead: Prevention is key

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends several steps to keep kids safe from lead.

* Have your child tested if your home was built before 1950.

* Talk to your pediatrician before remodeling any home built before 1978.

* When removing lead paint, use a certified contractor.

* Clean and cover flaking or chipping paint with a new coat of paint, duct tape or contact paper. Mop floors, sponge walls and use a HEPA vacuum. These are temporary fixes. Removal of lead-based paint is the best way to protect kids.

* Teach children to wash hands often.

* Have your home or apartment checked for lead before moving in. Landlords are legally responsible for removing any lead found on their property.

* If you work around lead or have hobbies that involve lead, change your clothes and remove shoes before entering your home.

* Make sure your child has a well-balanced diet, with low-fat foods that are high in iron and calcium, which reduce the amount of lead absorbed by the body.