LEAD IS STILL AN ISSUE...
that can’t be reversed.
Children under 6 years old are vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more easily.
Most children with lead poisoning don’t seem sick. Children can be exposed to lead in multiple ways.
A blood test is the only way to know if your child was exposed. There is no safe level of lead.
...BUT LEAD POISONING IS PREVENTABLE
homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint
OTHER SOURCES like certain spices, cosmetics, and traditional home remedies
CONTAMINATED SOIL from paint, smelter projects, leaded gasoline, or pesticide use
DRINKING WATER from lead pipes, fixtures, or solder
JOBS OR HOBBIES such as fishing, shooting, mechanics, and manufacturing
In general:
• Wash children’s hands before eating and after playing outside
If you live or work where there’s lead:
• Use a HEPA filter vacuum
• Dust with a damp paper towel
CHILDREN SHOULD BE TESTED at 12 and 24 months of age. Ask your child’s doctor for a lead test if your child is under 6 years old and has not had one. Some additional risk factors:
q Lives in or often visits a home built before 1978; often spends time near a former smelter site or an airport
q Has a caregiver who works with lead (home remodeling, car batteries, shooting, fishing weights, etc)
q Has a friend or sibling with lead poisoning
• Talk to your child’s doctor about getting a lead test. The cost is covered by Apple Health/Medicaid and most private insurances.
• For more information about lead poisoning prevention, visit
www.snohd.org/lead.
