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Nov
05

Blood lead testing and how to reduce your risk of lead exposure

There are many steps you can take right now to reduce you and your family's risk of exposure from lead.

Blood lead testing

The only way to know if your child is lead-poisoned is by getting him or her 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, some follow up may be necessary. For example, you may be eligible for a visit from Public Health experts who can investigate potential sources of lead in your home that may be contributing to your child’s blood lead level.

Check your house for lead hazards

Conduct routine check of your house looking for lead hazards. One way to do so is by contacting a professional. A professional can check your home in one of two ways, or both:

  • A paint inspection tells you the lead content of every different type of painted surface in your home. It won't tell you whether the paint is a hazard or how you should deal with it.
  • A risk assessment tells you if there are any sources of significant lead exposure such as peeling paint and lead dust that will impact your family's health. It also tells you what actions to take to address these hazards.

Reduce the dust levels in your home

  • Use a door mat to remove dirt from shoes before taking them off. Clean dust from underneath the matt frequently.
  • Take off your shoes before going into your home. Even after scraping off dirt, shoes will track some dust and lead into your home.
  • Keep play areas clean. Frequently wash toys, pacifiers, stuffed animals and other objects young children put in their mouths.
  • Damp dust and damp mop the house at least once a week. Damp mopping and damp dusting are very effective at picking up dust.
  • Keep your sidewalks and porch free of dust and debris. Use a HEPA vacuum if possible but a broom can work as well.

Healthy eating

  • Wash your hand before every meal and snack.
  • Keep children from eating and chewing on non-food items such as paint chips, window sills, and dirt.
  • Avoid using glazed pottery for food.
  • Eat foods high in calcium, Vitamin C and iron. Good nutrition helps prevent the body from absorbing lead.
  • If you enjoy candies imported from Mexico, check the list of candies that have been shown to contain lead, and avoid those candies.

Remodel safety

If your home was built before 1978 and you know it has lead-based paint, hire qualified professionals for remodeling work such as re-painting.

If you know you have leaded soil or leaded paint take interim steps while you are figuring out a long-term solution. For example, temporarily reduce lead paint hazards by repairing damaged painted surfaces. To minimize exposure to contaminated soil, plant grass or use bark to cover soil. These actions are not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention.

Community-based programming

With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and Best Starts for Kids, we partner with community-based organizations to increase blood lead testing and protect those most at risk of lead poisoning. Communities at increased risk of lead exposure include Medicaid-eligible children and their families, immigrant and refugee families with young children, families of color with young children, and families with young children living in South King County.

Our goals:

  • Increase childhood lead poisoning awareness in focus communities and among medical providers.
  • Build community capacity to prevent and address lead exposures.
  • Identify current and emerging sources of lead exposure in King County.
  • Improve policies and systems that protect communities from lead.
  • Increase the number of children with lead poisoning who receive culturally responsive developmental services and care.

Learn more about this work:

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