Lead Poisoning Prevention

Blood Lead Testing and how to reduce your risk of exposure

Blood Lead Testing

The only way to know if your child is lead-poisoned is by getting them a blood lead test. If your child has Medicaid insurance, testing for blood lead levels is required, especially for children at 12 months and 24 months of age. Children with Medicaid insurance between the ages of 36 months and 72 months of age must receive a lead screening blood test if they have not been previously tested.

To do the test your physician will need to obtain some of your child's blood. The blood can be drawn in two ways - 1) from a vein in the arm or 2) a prick on the finger or heel. If blood is drawn from a prick on the finger or heel and the results are high, your child should be re-tested using the blood collected from the arm to confirm the results. Blood collected from the vein provides the surest results.

If your child has a high blood lead level, their doctor may recommend follow-up services. These include finding and removing lead from the child’s environment and feeding the child a diet high in calcium and iron. Early identification of lead in the blood is key to reducing the long-term effects of lead exposure.

Tips for healthy eating

Eat foods high in calcium, Vitamin C and iron. Practicing good nutrition habits helps prevent the body from absorbing lead.
Wash your hands before every meal and snack
Wash all food thoroughly with safe water sources prior to eating. This will remove soil or lead dust that may be on its surface.
Keep children from putting non-food items such as paint chips, windowsills and dirt, in their mouth
Avoid using glazed pottery for food
If you enjoy candies imported from Mexico, check the list of candies that have been shown to contain lead and avoid those candies.

Checking your home for lead hazards

If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead basked paint, but some states banned it even earlier. Conduct routine checks of your house for lead hazards. One way to do this is to contact a professional. A professional can check your home by checking in the following ways:

A paint inspection will give you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. However, it won’t tell you whether or not the paint is a hazard and how to deal with it if it is a hazard.
A risk assessment will tell you if there are any sources of significant lead exposure in your home that will impact your family’s health and how to address the hazards.

Keep home clean and dust free

Clean your home once a week using a clean, wet or damp cloth, sponge or mop to minimize dust, which may contain lead
Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
Use a door mat to remove dirt from shoes before taking them off. Clean dust from underneath the mat frequently.
Take off shoes before entering your home. Shoes track in dust and lead.
Inspect and maintain all painted surfaces to guard against deterioration.
Clean area immediately with wet wipe if you notice peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking paint.