CDC Lead Videos
Importance of Childhood Blood Lead Testing - Brief overview of why it is important to protect young children from lead exposure and the importance of blood lead testing.
Watch two videos explaining what lead is, where it is found, and why it is important to protect children from lead exposure.
Federal Medicaid Testing Requirement
Federal regulations require that all children enrolled in Medicaid receive a blood lead test at 12 and 24 months of age, or at 24 to 72 months of age if no record of a previous test exists. The Department of Health (DOH) recommends screening all children not covered by Medicaid at 12 and 24 months of age using this clinical algorithm (PDF).
What is lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring metal in the environment. Lead can be found in the air, soil, water, and inside our homes.
Lead-based paint and lead dust are the main sources of lead poisoning. Homes built before 1978 are likely to have lead-based paint.
Other sources could include soil, drinking water, toys and jewelry, workplace and hobby hazards, aluminum or glazed ceramic cookware, imported spices, and traditional home remedies and cosmetics. Learn more about common sources of lead.
What are the health effects of lead and who is at risk?
Lead can affect almost every organ and system in your body. Children six years old and younger are the most affected by lead exposure. Their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
Lead in young children can cause behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, and hearing problems. Lead can also cause slowed growth and anemia in children.
Lead in adults, including pregnant people, can cause hypertension and increased blood pressure. Lead can also cause kidney and reproductive problems for adults. In pregnant people, lead can be passed to the unborn baby.
In rare cases, lead can cause seizures, coma, and even death.
Babies and children may be exposed to lead by:
- Breathing or swallowing lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil.
- Putting their hands and other objects, which may have lead dust, into their mouths.
- Eating and drinking food or water that has lead.
- Using cookware, dishes, or glasses that have lead.
- Playing with toys that have lead paint.
Adults, including pregnant people, may be exposed to lead by:
- Breathing lead dust in areas where lead-based paint is wearing down, and during renovation or repair work that disturbs painted surfaces in older homes and buildings.
- Eating and drinking food or water that has lead.
- Using cookware, dishes, or glasses that have lead.
- Working in a job or engaging in hobbies where lead is used, such as battery manufacturing or shooting firearms.
How do I know if my child has been exposed to lead?
Children who have been exposed to lead may not look or act sick. A blood test is the only way to tell if your child has been exposed to lead.
A child’s risk factors for lead exposure include:
- Lives in or regularly visits any house built before 1978.
- Family eligible for income-based assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, TANF, etc.)
- Has a sibling or friend with elevated blood lead levels.
- Is a recent immigrant, refugee, foreign adoptee, or child in foster care.
- Has a parent/caregiver who works with lead, for their job or hobby.
- Uses certain traditional remedies or cosmetics (Greta, Azarcon, Ghasard, Ba-baw-san, Sindoor, Kohl).
- Consumes certain imported spices or candies.
- Family uses imported ceramic or aluminum cookware.
If any of these are true for your child, or if you think your child has had any contact with lead, ask your doctor for a lead test. Learn more about testing children for lead exposure.
If your child is enrolled in Apple Health/Medicaid, their health care provider is required to give them blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, or once between 24-72 months if they were not previously tested.
How do I prevent exposure to lead?
Steps you can take to lower the chances of exposure to lead in your home:
- Keep your home clean and dust-free.
- Inspect and maintain all painted surfaces. When old paint cracks and peels, it makes dangerous dust.
- Clean painted areas where friction can generate dust, such as doors, windows, and drawers with a wet sponge or rag.
- Remodel, repair, and paint old homes safely. Sanding or scraping paint can create lead dust. Make sure your contractor is Lead-Safe Certified. EPA's lead renovation, repair, and painting rules.
- The Washington State Department of Commerce runs the Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (RRP). Under Resources, they keep a list of certified RRP companies and a list of certified Lead-Based Paint Activities (inspections/abatement).
- Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.
- Learn how to reduce lead exposure in drinking water.
- Eat well-balanced meals with calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Children with healthy diets absorb less lead. EPA's Fight Lead Poisoning with a Healthy Diet (PDF).
- Remove shoes and wash hands after working or playing outdoors to avoid bringing in soil that may contain lead.
- If you're exposed to lead at work, don't bring it home. Use separate work clothes and shoes. Shower before coming home or as soon as you get home. Put dirty work clothes in plastic bag and wash them separately from other clothes.
- If you have a hobby that exposes you to lead, don’t contaminate your home. Keep children and pregnant people out of the area.
- Look at toy and jewelry product recalls due to lead. See CPSC's product recalls.
- Avoid using home remedies and cosmetics that contain lead.
- Avoid using imported cookware, pottery, dishware, and ceramics for food and drinks if unsure whether or not it contains lead.
- Lead Publications for more information.