MONROE — Green County Public Health is excited to recognize National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 20-26, 2024. Lead is toxic, especially for young children. When lead is breathed in or swallowed, it can result in damage to the brain and nervous system, which can lead to problems with children’s health and development. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The goal is to encourage families and other stakeholders to take action to prevent lead poisoning.
About 3.3 million American households, including 2.1 million low-income households, have children under 6 years of age who live in homes with lead hazards. In Green County, 3% of children under the age of 6 have elevated blood lead levels, which is higher than the state’s average of 2.8% of children. Even relatively low levels of lead exposure can impair a child’s cognitive development; there is no safe blood lead level in children. Children with elevated blood lead levels can experience delayed growth and development, damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, and a host of other health-related issues.
Lead can be found inside and outside the home. The most common source of lead exposure for children is from lead-based paint, which was used in many homes built before 1978. Adults and children can get lead into their bodies by breathing in lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations, repairs, or painting) or by swallowing lead dust that settles in food, food preparation surfaces, floors, window sills, eating paint chips, soil that contains lead, drinking water from lead pipes, or other places. Children can also become exposed to lead dust from adults’ jobs or hobbies and from some metal toys or toys painted with lead-based paint. Parents and caregivers can find a list of recalled products containing lead on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website: cpsc.gov.
Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services updated their childhood blood lead testing recommendations to be in-line with federal Medicaid requirements. Wisconsin recommends testing all children at age one, all children again at age two, and any children between ages 3 to 5 without a previous test. Parents can consult with their child’s healthcare provider to learn more about routine blood lead level testing. Green County Public Health works with the families of children with elevated blood lead levels to identify the source of lead, and attempt to eliminate further lead exposure.
For more information on childhood lead poisoning and other public health issues please visit Green County Public Health website and Facebook page.
