HARTFORD, Conn. -- Did you know your child could be getting poisoned right in front of your eyes, and you not even know it? It happens all the time.

If you find out you have a problem with lead in your home, you can get help from the state, which receives millions in funding every year to do just that.

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Margarita Martinez was shocked to discover that most of her Hartford home was overrun with the highly toxic chemical.

"I was totally shocked because I really didn't expect that," she said. "The window trimmings, as well as windows, the stairs, the doors, as well as the entire exterior of home (had lead)."

Every year, hundreds of thousands of children are poisoned in their own homes by lead, a natural metal found in things like building materials, to batteries, to soil, to ceramics -- but it's most commonly found in older paint.

Until 1978, lead paint was used for the exterior and interior of homes. About 30 percent of the homes in the state were built before 1950, so lead poisoning is even more of a concern in Connecticut, Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Erika Arias said.

"You don't know where to revert to because you want to keep your children safe, but at the same token, you don't know how to go about it," Martinez said.

As soon as Martinez found out about the lead, she found help with one of the state's lead remediation programs, which replaced her windows and doors, fixed her stairs and put new lead-free siding on her house.

Thanks to more than $10 million a year in grants for the programs, it was all free.

"I thought it was going to be between a good $50,000," Martinez said.

Martinez also had her son, Christian, tested for lead. She found out he was OK, but she's worried about others.

"There are children here that get exposed to lead and the mothers are not aware," she said.

Arias reported childhood lead poisoning rates are declining in the United States, but this year in Connecticut, more than 1,000 children under the age of 5 will test positive and have too much lead in their blood.

Because there are so many sources of lead like in old paint, toys and even the water, there is no surefire way to prevent lead poisoning. So, doctors said the best thing you can do is to get your child tested.

"It's so critical to get children tested early on before the get into high levels," said Dr. Lisa Menillo from St. Francis Hospital.

Testing for led takes a finger prick at your child's doctor's office. A blood lead level of 10 or higher is considered lead poisoning and can cause reduced IQs, learning disabilities, stunted growth, impaired hearing and kidney damage. It has also been linked to attention deficit disorder and other behavioral problems.

"Once the child has been exposed and elevated levels are there, often times the damage can't be reversed," Menillo said.

Because medication can't reverse the effects of lead poisoning, the only thing you can to is try to remove the sources of lead in the home. You can also be proactive by trying to reduce your child's exposure and risk by:

• Washing your child's hands and toys or anything they put into their mouth
• Wet mop floors weekly so dust that may contain lead gets cleaned up
• Check out your home's plumbing because it may be lined with lead
• Remember that healthy diets rich in calcium and iron actually helps prevent lead from being absorbed

More Information

• Connecticut Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program
• Lead Poisoning (LAMPP: Connecticut Lead Action Medicaid Primary Prevention): For financial assistance of lead remediation
• National Safety Council Information on Lead