Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Week Begins Oct 23
October 23rd through October 29th is Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Week. The Evanston Health Department is encouraging the parents of children between the ages of six months through six years to have the child’s blood lead level tested. Every year, Evanston children are unknowingly being exposed to lead and are suffering long-term consequences. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, exposure to lead in children has been linked to “behavior problems, learning disorders, diminished I.Q., fatigue, hyperactivity, hearing problems and, in severe cases, seizures, coma, or death.”
How do you know if your child is at risk for lead exposure? If you are an Evanston resident living in an apartment or house built before 1978, your child is at risk for lead exposure. Lead Paint was outlawed for use in 1978. If you notice the paint on your window is chipped or pealing, and it looks like an alligator’s skin chances are this is lead-based paint. Exposure can also result from use of potter, toys, and cosmetics from other countries. A list of toys associated with lead recalls can be found on the Consumer Product Safety Commissions website http://www.cpsc.gov/.
Women should also have their blood lead levels checked because lead can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
If it is determined your child has lead poisoning a Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner from the Evanston Health Department will visit your home and obtain potential lead samples.
Remember to practice good hygiene by making sure your child’s hands, mouth, and face are clean. Prevent lead particles from becoming trapped in your child’s fingernails by keeping them short. Children love putting things in their mouth so keep bottles, pacifiers, and toys clean. Maintain clean playing areas. Be Lead Safe!