Lead poisoning is still a serious risk for children—especially those living in homes built before 1978. Lead from old paint, dust, or soil can hurt a child’s growth and learning. The good news is that lead poisoning can be prevented.

The only way to know if your child has been around lead is with a simple blood test. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about testing. There is no safe level of lead. A test helps find lead early so you can take steps to keep your child healthy.

In Salt Lake County, pregnant women and children younger than 6 years with a blood lead level of 3.5 µg/dL or higher can get free help through the Lead Home Visiting Program. To understand how small that amount is, it’s like mixing a tiny bit of lead—about a quarter teaspoon—into a huge Olympic swimming pool. The program helps families find where lead might be in their homes and gives them useful tips to lower their exposure.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19–25 this year. It’s a good time to remember that parents can protect their children from lead by staying informed, getting tested early, and making their homes safer.

Links to websites or resources

Salt Lake County Lead Home Visiting Program: The Salt Lake County Health Department offers programs that help doctors test children younger than 6 years for lead poisoning. If a child lives in Salt Lake County and has a blood test result of 3.5 µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) or above, they can receive services from Salt Lake County’s Lead Home Visiting Program. This program offers visits for families to teach them about lead poisoning and to find and reduce possible sources of lead in their homes. https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/health/healthy-living/healthy-places/lead-poisoning

Utah Department of Health and Human Services: Provides information for parents on how to prevent childhood lead poisoning. https://epi.utah.gov/lead-poisoning-prevention/ 

University of Utah: What to know about lead poisoning in children article for parents. visit the Utah Lead Coalition’s website.