Press Release-For Immediate Use

October 23, 2017

From:   Public Information Officer, 326-8618

RE:       Scott County Health Department Recognizes National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

October 22 – 28, 2017

Lead is all around us in our everyday environment, but lead poisoning is entirely preventable. “Despite lead paint having been banned in 1978, Scott County still has a significant number of children each year reported to have elevated levels of lead in their blood from lead paint exposure,” states Ed Rivers, Scott Country Health Department Director.  He continues, “This is a problem we are dedicated to solving and one which has an endpoint:  when all the lead paint is removed, no hazard remains.” To bring attention to the importance of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the Scott County Health Department along with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is participating in National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) October 22-28, 2017.

Children under six years old and unborn children are at greatest risk of harmful health effects from lead poisoning because their brains are developing very quickly and their smaller, growing bodies absorb and keep lead more easily than adult bodies. In 2016, 212 Scott County kids were lead poisoned according to CDC guidelines. Many Scott County kids become lead poisoned by eating lead-based paint chips or by breathing in lead-based paint dust.

Lead can have serious health costs for children. Many studies have shown a link between childhood lead exposure and its permanent impact on the brains of children. Even at lower levels that were once thought to be safe, lead is known to affect the way a child thinks and behaves, resulting in decreased ability to learn and behavioral changes such as reduced attention span and increased aggression. These small changes can have a large impact on the life path of a lead poisoned child.

This year's NLPPW theme, "It’s the LITTLE Things," is a small reminder of the permanent health effects that children suffer as a result of lead poisoning. Research has shown that the largest number of developmental effects from lead poisoning happens in those with the lowest blood lead levels. So, Scott County Health Department recommends that all children with lead detected in their blood are followed closely by their doctor.

Parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead in many ways. Here are some simple things you can do to help protect your family:

1. Know your Lead Rights. Before you buy or rent an older home, ask for a “Lead Warning Statement.”
2. Get Your Child Tested. If your child is under the age of six, ask your doctor to test him/her for lead.
3. Learn About Lead Sources. Many older homes have lead-based paint in them. Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking paint is dangerous to small children. Learn more about lead at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/parents.htm.
4. Understand the Facts! Contact Scott County Health Department at (563) 326-8618 or www.scottcountyiowa.com/health for more information.