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Lead Poisoning Prevention
Our Care Managers answer questions about lead. 
Lead Poisoning Prevention Podcast What is Lead?
Lead is a metal found in the earth’s soil. Lead has no purpose in the body. If the level of lead is allowed to build up in the body over time, very serious health problems can occur. Children and pregnant women are the most at risk. Even low levels of lead can cause learning and behavior problems, lower IQ scores, and growth and hearing problems.
A child’s growing body takes in more lead than an adult's. A child's brain and nervous system is more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. And because young children put a lot of things in their mouth, their chance of taking in lead dust is higher. Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing in lead or lead dust. Most often, there are no symptoms of lead poisoning.
Lead was added to many things used in our homes to make them look better, last longer or work better. Lead paint gets the most attention. However, lead was also added to gasoline, glassware (lead crystal), and mini-blinds. It is still used in some workplaces, or in home hobbies like welding car parts, making fishing tackle, or in arts and crafts (like making stained glass).
Lead was slowly taken out of gasoline in 1986. As of 1978, lead was not allowed to be used in house paint. If a house has chipping or flaking paint, it may need to be tested for lead.
Blood Lead testing -- Most of the time there are no signs of lead poisoning. The only way to know if your child or family has come in contact with lead is with a blood test.
When to Test -- Children should have the blood lead test at 12 Months (age 1) and 24 months (age 2) or if never tested, as soon as possible up to age 6. This can be done with a finger stick (a capillary blood test) or by drawing blood from the vein in the arm (a venous blood test).
Where to get tested -- Ask your PCP about this blood lead test. Usually this is done at the time of the well-child check-up but can be done at any other time if needed. A child may also be tested at health fairs, schools or WIC offices.
What you need to know about the results -- Please ask your doctor to tell you what the number of the result is. An “elevated” result is anything 10 or higher. Please note: If the first blood lead test was a finger stick (capillary draw) then blood from the vein in the arm (venous draw) is recommended to see whether the results stay at 10 or higher.For Lead levels of 10 or higher:
- Environmental Investigation: Your local Health Department or the State Environmental program will be in touch with you to offer a home assessment called an “environmental investigation” (EI). This is done at no cost to the family. The EI helps to find places where the lead might be in and outside of your home. They will give you tips on what you can do to stay away from or get rid of the lead.
- Case Manager: A Lead Case Manager (CM) will help you know more about how to keep your child and family safe from Lead. Your local Health Department, the State Lead program or Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners will help you with these services.
- Learn about ways to clean that help keep lead dust and chipping, pealing or flaking paint away from young children.
- Understand what steps to take before remodeling or repainting.
- Follow good hand washing practices.
- Feed children foods high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C and low in fats and oils.
- Find grassy areas for children to play in. If soil is bare, cover it.
- If working around lead, change clothes and shower before entering the car or home. Leave shoes outside or at the door to your home to keep lead dust out.
- Stop using dishes or other things in the home that may have lead in it or change its use (for example use a ceramic pot for decoration instead of for cooking).
- Continue to go back for the blood tests until the lead level is under 10.
- Speak up! Ask for the blood test, get the results, write it down and keep the well child exams (the KBH exam or EPSDT exam).
Blood Lead Testing Record Card – this card can be used to keep track of your child’s blood lead test results.
CMFHP CM services
CMFHP Lead Poisoning Prevention Care Managers are available to:
- Help work with members and their families who have blood lead levels of 10 or higher.
- Help families know how to protect their families from Lead.
- Mail information about lead to members and their families.
- Work with the family, local Health Department, doctor office and State Lead program to make sure that everything is being done to keep families safe from lead. We see families as an important part of our team!
