Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in our environment. Until recently, companies used lead in paint, plumbing materials, gasoline, and household products. The United States now bans or limits lead in these products, but lead is still around us.

When a person is exposed to lead, it can built up in the body, which is commonly referred to as lead poisoning or elevated blood lead level. There is no safe level of lead in the human body. Lead poisoning is a serious health issue that can cause lifelong harm.

In Wisconsin, exposure to lead-based paint and dust is the most common cause of lead poisoning in children. Lead can be in the old paint, dust, pipes, and soil in or around older homes and buildings. Products like toys, pottery, and makeup from other countries can also contain lead. Risks also exist for some jobs and hobbies.

Children under the age of 6 years old are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children are also at higher risk for lead exposure because they often put their hands and other objects into their mouths.

Adults can also be exposed to lead. If a person has too much lead in their body when pregnant, it can expose the child to the same risks as lead dust. Breast milk can also contain eleveated lead levels.

If a parent or caregiver works with lead, they can expose their child if it is on their skin, shoes, or clothing. Risky jobs and hobbies include construction, hunting, painting, battery manufacturing, and auto repair.

Homes and buildings built before 1978 are more likely to contain lead-based paint or shellac. Use caution around peeling or chipping paint, old windows, and any renovation projects. Worn out, unmaintained housing can also pose a risk to children. Because of this, children in poverty or low-income areas are often at a higher risk for lead poisoning.

There are often no signs or symptoms of lead exposure. children may have an elevated blood lead level and not look or act sick. A blood test is the only way to know if a child has been exposed to lead. All children should be tested at 12 and 24 months of age (age 1 and age 2). Children between ages 3 and 5 should also receive a blood test if they have not been tested before.

Your child’s health care provider or local clinic is the best place to get tested. Lead tests are paid for by most insurance plans. Testing for Medicaid-eligible children is required and paid for by Medicaid.

Lead exposure, even at low levels, has been shown to harm the developing brains and bodies of infants and young children. This includes a decreased intelligence or ability to learn, increased behavior problems, impaired school performance, increased juvenile delinquency, and increased childhood health problems such as speech and language delays, hearing problems, kidney damage, seizures, and in rare cases, death.

If you’re a parent or caregiver of a young child, there are steps you can take now to reduce the risk of lead exposure and catch it early. The most important step is to identify and address potential sources of lead. Consider testing painted surfaces, household dust, soil, and water (especially in homes built before 1978), and hire a certified lead-safe professional if you’re planning renovations. Keep your home clean by wet-wiping floors, windowsills, baseboards, and toys by using a HEPA vacuum (see below for rental details) when possible. Encourage frequent handwashing, especially before meals, and cover bare soil in play areas. Use only cold tap water for drinking and cooking, letting it run briefly before use. Offering foods rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C can help reduce the amount of lead the body absorbs. Finally, getting your child testing according to the schedule above and making a plan with their provider can help catch lead exposure early.

Elevated Blood Lead Level in Child:

The North Shore Health Department is notified each time a child in our jurisdiction has a lead test result at or above 3.4 micrograms/deciliter (mcg/dL). The type of test performed and the level of the result determine the follow-up steps we can take to support your family.

For families with a child who has an elevated blood lead level, we offer services such as education, a home visit from a public health nurse, environmental inspection and testing, and free rental of a HEPA vacuum to help reduce lead dust in the home.

Please contact us at (414) 371-2980 to learn more or discuss how we can assist you.