CONTACT
Olga Dack, Office of Communications, (402) 840-0711,
olga.dack@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – Lead poisoning is considered one of the most preventable environmental diseases affecting young children. During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), held October 24 – 30, 2021, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is encouraging parents, families, and public health partners to take action to prevent lead poisoning.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a joint effort between federal agencies, community organizations, and state and local government. The goal is to raise local awareness about the danger of lead exposure and poisoning, educate parents and communities on how to reduce exposure to lead in the environment, prevent its serious health effects, and learn about the importance of testing children for lead.
Of the 33,747 children in Nebraska under 6 years old who received a blood lead test in 2020, 296 (0.9%) had a confirmed elevated blood lead level. “There is no safe level of lead in children," said Dr. Matthew Donahue, Acting State Epidemiologist for DHHS. “The problem is largely preventable with testing, education, and a focus on prevention."
Even relatively low levels of lead exposure can impair a child's cognitive development. Children with blood lead levels can experience delayed growth and development, damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, and a host of other health-related problems.
Lead can be found inside and outside the home. However, the most common source of exposure for children is from lead-based paint, which was used in many homes built before 1978. More than half of homes in Nebraska built before 1978 have lead paint somewhere in the house.
Children and adults can get lead into their bodies by breathing in lead dust or by swallowing lead dust that settles in food, food preparation surfaces, floors, windowsills, eating paint chips, soil that contains lead, or other places. Activities such as home renovations, repairs, or painting can increase the amount of lead dust in a home. Children can also become exposed to lead dust from adults' jobs or hobbies. Lead can be found in certain consumer products like traditional medicines and spices purchased or imported from other counties.
Children are not exposed equally to lead, and do not suffer its consequences in the same way. In 2020, 48% of the children with elevated blood lead levels lived in urban and low-income communities in Omaha. North Omaha has had environmental soil contamination from previous lead smelting plant ASARCO, which is now a lead superfund site. However, environmental contamination is only one of the factors. Lead paint in older housing has also been a contributing factor in urban areas like north, central, and south Omaha, as well as central Lincoln and other parts of Nebraska where deteriorating lead-based paint is present in older homes.
“Despite significant progress in past decades in removing lead from the environment, children in Nebraska remain at risk for exposure to lead," said Dr. Donahue. “Lead poisoning is still a public health problem today, and it requires health departments, community organizations, and healthcare providers to work together to reduce exposures in children."
Parents and families can take simple steps to protect family members from lead hazards in the home:
- Get Your Child Tested:
- Act early to get your child tested for lead. A simple blood test can detect lead. Talk to your child's healthcare provider for advice on blood lead testing. Blood lead tests are recommended for most children at ages 12 and 24 months.
- Make Sure Children Have Safe Crawls:
- Lead exposure is dangerous during early childhood development, particularly for children who crawl. Children's hands and toys can pick up household dust or exterior soil contaminated by lead. Be sure to move children's outdoor play areas away from bare soil and the sides of your home. Wet-mop floors and wet-wipe surfaces indoors often to reduce the risk of lead exposure.
- Know About Lead in Your Home:
- If you live in a house that was built before 1978, there's a chance that lead may be present inside or outside your home. Lead-based paint is especially hazardous in areas where paint is chipping or peeling, especially near windows, porches, and soil next to the house.
- Get Your Home Tested:
- If your home was built before 1978, you can get it tested for lead-based paint. A certified inspector or risk assessor can be hired to check your home for lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards.
For more information about lead and helpful tips on preventing childhood lead poisoning, visit https://leadsafe.ne.gov/ or www.dhhs.ne.gov/lead. To contact a local health department's lead poisoning prevention program, visit www.dhhs.ne.gov/lhd.