Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention - Public Health Department

The main way that parents can prevent their children from becoming lead poisoned is to be aware of the possible sources of lead exposure for their children. If you live in a home built before 1978 or if you child visits a home that was built before 1978, it is recommended that your child have a blood lead test done in order to assure that he/she is not becoming lead poisoned. Children who are between the ages of 1 and 6 years are at the highest risk of becoming lead poisoned from their environment. This is mainly due to the hand-mouth activities of children at this age. Parents can get their child a blood test for lead level by asking their child's medical provider for a test for lead poisoning. Insurance companies will reimburse for the blood test, as well as programs such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and the Children's Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program.

See child's doctor for a lead test.

Regular Cleaning

Wet mop floors Wipe sills weekly

If you live in an older home that may contain lead paint which can lead to lead dust in the home, it is important to damp mop you floors at least once a week, as well as damp dusting areas in your home where your child spends time, especially window sills that are easy for a young child to reach. Observe your child. Does he/she chew on painted surfaces in the house (older furniture can contain leaded paint)? Have you seen your child eating paint? Dirt around the home can contain lead if the paint is peeling in the yard, or if cars are run in the yard and exhaust lands in the dirt. Have you seen your child eating dirt? A child that has been eating paint or dirt should be tested for lead poisoning.

Be Safe When Working With Lead

Mop work area

Clean work surfaces

Keep Children out of the work area

Good Nutrition against lead poisoning

Foods containing iron

Feed your child foods containing iron:

fortified cereal, beans, meat, liver.

Feed your child foods containing calcium:

milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli

Eat less foods high in fat:

bacon, sausage, french fries, hot dogs.

Offer several small meals each day.

A child that has a well-balanced diet will be less likely to become lead poisoned. The obvious point to this is that if a child is not hungry, he or she will not be looking for something to eat (that something may be lead paint chips!). Lead is absorbed in the small intestine by the same enzymes that absorb calcium and iron. If a child has food in their intestine that has calcium and iron in it, these enzymes will be "busy" absorbing calcium and iron, and will not be able to absorb as much of lead that may have gotten into the intestine.

Use Certified Contractors to Perform Remodeling

Work clean.

Work wet.

Wear mask and protective clothing.

Cover ground.

Keep children out of area.

If your child has lived in or visited a place that was constructed before 1978 undergoing some renovation, such as painting, you should have your child tested for lead poisoning. It is important that paint from older homes be tested for lead level before the paint is sanded or scrapped. Cirrus Lab in Santa Maria will test paint samples for lead levels for approximately $20.00 per sample. They can be contacted at 346-1766. Sanding and scrapping leaded paint can cause lead contamination of the building, as well as the neighborhood. Lead paint should never be dry sanded, scrapped or burned off. When hiring a contractor to work on your home (if it was built before 1978); make sure that they are lead inspector certified, and a lead certified contractor. It is against the law for a contractor to disturb paint on houses built before 1978 if they are not a certified lead contractor. If a homeowner is working on his/her own home he/she needs to be aware of how to work with lead safely. For more information go to www.epa.gov/cincl , select Search, select Simple Search, type in 747R94002, and click the search button.

Work Safe

Wash hands and face at work.

Shower at work.

Change clothes and shoes before entering the living area.

Wash work clothes separate from other clothes.

Do not eat, smoke or chew gum at work.

If adults in your home work in a job that may expose them to lead, your child should be tested for lead poisoning. Lead dust that is brought home day after day can cause a child to become lead poisoned. If you suspect that you may be bringing lead home from work, have your child tested for lead poisoning. Actions you can take:

Simple Things To Do


Wash child's hands and face often.	Wash anything your child puts his/her mouth on.

Use doormat at entrance to the house.

Remove shoes before entering the house.

For more information click on "Health Risks." Thank you for visiting our website.

Photographs courtesy of the State Department of Health Services, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, and Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.