A nurse is caring for the following 4 children. Which child is at highest risk for developing lead poisoning?

Rationale: A. A 3-year-old child who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder last month: A diagnosis of autism does not increase physiological risk for lead exposure. Risk depends on environmental factors such as housing age, contaminated soil, or parental occupations. Without exposure-related details, this child does not represent the highest likelihood of ingesting or absorbing lead. B. A 4-year-old child whose parents work in the textile industry making yarn and cloth: Textile work does not typically involve significant lead exposure, unlike industries such as battery manufacturing, construction, or smelting. C. A 2-year-old child who has a history of eating dirt: Toddlers with pica or frequent soil ingestion are at high risk because soil around older homes or contaminated areas may contain lead. Children at this age also absorb lead more efficiently and often explore the environment orally, greatly increasing their exposure potential through contaminated dust or soil. D. A 6-year-old child in the 25th percentile for height and weight: Being small for age does not inherently increase risk of lead poisoning. Risk is more closely linked to environmental sources such as old paint, soil, water, and household renovations.