Childhood lead poisoning is a disease that occurs when children are exposed to too much lead. Lead poisoning can be prevented.

Children can become lead-poisoned by:

• Eating lead-based paint chips.
• Putting dirty hands or toys in their mouths. Household dust in older homes often contains lead that gets on children's hands and toys.
• Breathing in dust from lead-based paint that is being sanded or removed with a heat gun.

If a child lives in or visits your home, you should be concerned because:

• Lead poisoning is usually caused by lead-based paint found in homes built before 1960.
• About 60 percent of the homes in Iowa, both in urban and rural areas, were built before 1960.

Many lead-poisoned children do not show any signs of the disease. Some, however, may have the following symptoms;

• Easily excited
• Not able to pay attention
• Stomach aches
• More tired than usual

Lead-poisoned children may have learning and behavior problems as they grow older.

Children with very high lead levels may develop seizures, become unconscious, or even die.

You can protect your child from being poisoned by lead by taking the following steps:

• Carefully look around the inside and outside of your home for peeling and chipping paint. You should also check other homes where your child visits. Be sure to check the following areas:
  • window sills,
  • the area of your windows between the storm window and the inside window, and
  • outdoor play areas.
  • Keep paint chips picked up. Keep your child away from areas where there is chipping paint.
• At least once a week, clean paint chips out of the windows and the areas inside the windows. Also dust the house and mop and vacuum the floors.
• Wash you child's hands often – especially before meals and snacks. Also wash your child's toys or pacifier often.
• If you work with lead on the job or in a hobby, change your clothing and shower before being around your child. Make sure that anyone else who spends time with your child also does this.
• If you plan to do any painting or remodeling in an older home, please click here for a list of people you can call to tell you how to safely remove lead-based paint.

The only way to tell if your child has lead poisoning is to have their blood tested.

• The first step is to take your child to a doctor's office or public health clinic. They will take a small sample of blood from the child's finger or heel.
• Your child will be tested more often if their blood test shows a small amount of lead.
• If your child's blood tests show higher levels of lead, a blood sample will be taken from your child's arm and carefully tested.

• Someone from the Iowa Department of Public Health or your local health department will visit you at home. They will show you where your child is being exposed to the lead and explain how to take care of the problem.
• Your child may get a complete medical exam and nutrition evaluation, depending on the amount of lead in their blood.
• Your child will get medical treatment to remove lead from their body if their blood tests show a very high level of lead.

For more information about lead poisoning and how you can protect your children, call one of the following offices listed below:

• Iowa Department of Public Health: 1-515-281-3479 or 1-800-972-2026
• Black Hawk County Child Health Center: 1-319-291-2732
• Lee County Health Department: 1-800-458-6672 or 1-319-372-5225
• Linn County Health Department: 1-319-398-3551
• Scott County Health Department: 1-319-326-8618

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For more information contact:

Becky Fader, RN
Lee County Health Department
2218 Avenue H
Fort Madison,IA 52627
Phone 1-800-458-6672 or 1-319-372-5225
Fax 1-319-372-4374
Email healthdepartment@leecounty.org

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