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Lead Poisoning Prevention

Protect Your Children...Learn About Lead!

Product Recalls

  • WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée Pouches (posted here 11/9/23)
    • Information about this recall including specific items being recalled is available on the FDA's website (posted 10/31/23). 
    • Stop using the recalled products and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can email the company at support@wanabanafruits.com.


 
Testing for lead

It’s the law in New York State!

Your child’s doctor must test for lead during the Well Child exam. Ask for a lead test when your child is one year old and again at two years old.

“At one and two, testing for lead is what you do.”


 
 
What are the dangers of lead?

Lead poisoning is a serious health problem for children. Lead poisoning damages growing cells and tissues and can cause any of the following problems in children:

  • a lower IQ
  • hearing loss
  • anemia
  • kidney damage
  • growth problems

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How do children get lead poisoning?

For many years most house paints were made with lead in them. For that reason the paint in a lot of older homes contains lead. In an older house, your child can easily be exposed to the lead in old paint in these ways:

A new coat of paint may cover up the danger. But chipping and crumbling plaster walls can expose the old lead paint and the danger returns.

If your child has lead in his or her blood, new and growing cells and tissues continue to be damaged. The more lead in your child's blood, the more damage it causes.


Lead Free Kids for a Healthy Future

 
How to protect children from lead poisoning.

Keep your child away from sources of lead.

  • find out if there is a dangerous amount of lead in your house or apartment.
  • keep children away from peeling paint and broken plaster.
  • wash your child's hands and face often to remove any lead dust or dirt.
  • wash your child's toys often, especially teething toys.

Keep your home or apartment free of lead.

  • have the paint and plaster on your walls tested for lead before you renovate or remodel.

Keep your community safe from lead poisoning.

  • work to keep lead dust out of the environment. If you see uncontrolled grinding or sanding of exterior paint in your residential area, find out if the surfaces have been tested for lead. Or notify the Tompkins County Health Department at (607) 274-6688.


Additional Resources


 
Lead Exposure Risk Assessment for Children Questionnaire

In addition to the required testing of all children for lead with a blood lead test at one year of age and again at age two, assessment of risk for lead exposure should be done at each well-child visit, or at least annually for each child six months to six years of age. This Risk Assessment Questionnaire is a tool based on currently accepted public health guidelines. Children found to be at risk for lead exposure should receive a blood lead test whenever such risk is identified.


 
What Your Child’s Blood Lead Test Means

The blood lead test tells you how much lead is in your child's blood. Lead can harm a child's growth, behavior, and ability to learn. The lower the test result, the better.

Most lead poisoning occurs when children lick, swallow, or breathe in dust from old lead paint. Most homes built before 1978 have old lead paint, often under newer paint. If paint peels, cracks, or is worn down, the chips and dust from the old lead paint can spread onto floors, windowsills and all around your home. Lead paint dust can then get onto children's hands and toys, and into their mouths.

Most children have had some contact with lead in old paint, soil, plumbing, or another source. This is why New York State requires doctors to test all children with a blood lead test at age 1 year and again at age 2 years. For children up to age six years, at every well child visit your healthcare provider should ask you about ways your child may have had contact with lead. Your child should be tested if they had contact with lead.

If a test result is shows high levels using blood from a fingertip, the child should be checked again with a second test using blood taken from a vein (often in the arm). If the second result is still high, you should follow the steps below. [Source]

Test Result
in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL)
Next Steps

 

0-4

 

  • There is very little lead in your child’s blood.
  • The average lead test result for young children is about 1.4 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL).

 

5-14

 

  • Your child’s lead level is high. A result of 5 µg/dL or higher requires action.
  • Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about your child’s diet, growth and development, and possible sources of lead.
  • Your local health department will talk with you about how to protect your child and will visit your home to help you find sources of lead.
  • Your child should be tested again in 1 to 3 months.
15-44
  • Your child's lead level is quite high. You and your doctor should act quickly.
  • Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about your child’s diet, growth and development, and possible sources of lead.
  • Your local health department will talk with you about how to protect your child and will visit your home to help you find sources of lead.
  • Your child should be tested again in 1 month or sooner depending on the blood lead level and your doctor’s guidance.
45 or higher
  • Your child needs medical treatment right away.
  • Your doctor or local health department will call you as soon as they get the test result.
  • Your child might have to stay in a hospital, especially if your home has lead.
  • Your local health department will visit your home to help you find sources of lead.
  • Your child should not go back home until the lead sources are removed or fixed.
  • Your child needs to be tested again after treatment.

Source: NYS Department of Health. Download a PDF from the NYSDOH website.


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Remodeling Safety: Know before you work on your home.

Lead based paints were manufactured for residential use until 1978. Some lead based paints contained as much as 50 percent lead by dry weight.

Whether you do it yourself or hire it out, before you remodel or renovate your older (pre-1979) home, learn the latest safe remodeling practices!

  • Have painted surfaces tested before disturbing them. Call Environmental Health (EH) at 274-6688 about sampling and testing services.
  • Interpret results correctly. Make sure you understand how lead content is described, what levels are acceptable, and who may be affected. Ask EH staff to assist you.
  • Proceed responsibly. Tompkins County Sanitary Code considers lead paint dust an environmental hazard. Uncontrolled discharge of lead paint dust is a violation of the code and could result in substantial daily fines. The US-EPA requires contractors to be certified for lead paint removal.
    For more complete info about lead paint removal, click here.

When was your house last painted?

Etimated percent of exterior paint that contained lead:

  • pre-1940: 80%
  • 1940–1959: 45%
  • 1960–1979: 28%

 
Who to call and how to find out more about lead.

To find out more about having your child tested for lead: Call Community Health Services at the Health Department, (607) 274-6604.

To find out more about having your home or apartment tested for lead: Call the Environmental Health Division of the Health Department, (607) 274-6688.

Other web sites with information about lead:


Check out this CDC Infographic about the dangers of lead poisoning:

 CDC Infographic


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