Young children tested for blood lead level in Delaware

Lead is a toxin formerly found in gasoline, paint and other household items. While lead is much less commonly found in home and work environments, lead poisoning still presents a major health concern and requires careful vigilance to prevent, because lead can't be seen, tasted or smelled. Exposure to lead can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, kidney damage, mental development delays, comas and even death. Lead poisoning can affect anyone, but children are affected the most due to vulnerabilities in their developing brains and bodies.

Work of the last several decades has resulted in a significant drop in the number of children with elevated blood lead levels. Despite the extraordinary success, disparities persist, with those disproportionately affected including children living below the federal poverty level, children living in older housing, non-Hispanic blacks, Latinos, immigrants and refugees. 

The best way to reduce childhood lead poisoning is by focusing on primary prevention, which entails removing lead hazards from the environment before a child is exposed. Early identification is a second-best strategy to reducing impact of environmental lead contaminants to children’s health. Health departments accomplish this using blood lead screening tests. To minimize the adverse effects of lead poisoning, it is essential that testing rates increase so no child is left undiagnosed and any child with an EBLL is treated early.

Lead is a toxin formerly found in gasoline, paint and other household items. While lead is much less commonly found in home and work environments, lead poisoning still presents a major health concern and requires careful vigilance to prevent, because lead can't be seen, tasted or smelled. Exposure to lead can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, kidney damage, mental development delays, comas and even death. Lead poisoning can affect anyone, but children are affected the most due to vulnerabilities in their developing brains and bodies.

Work of the last several decades has resulted in a significant drop in the number of children with elevated blood lead levels. Despite the extraordinary success, disparities persist, with those disproportionately affected including children living below the federal poverty level, children living in older housing, non-Hispanic blacks, Latinos, immigrants and refugees. 

The best way to reduce childhood lead poisoning is by focusing on primary prevention, which entails removing lead hazards from the environment before a child is exposed. Early identification is a second-best strategy to reducing impact of environmental lead contaminants to children’s health. Health departments accomplish this using blood lead screening tests. To minimize the adverse effects of lead poisoning, it is essential that testing rates increase so no child is left undiagnosed and any child with an EBLL is treated early.