Feedback

Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

PrintRSSShareTwitterFacebookWordPressYouTube
Return To The Main DHH Site
Statewide Initiatives

EMSTAT
211 - Get Connected. Get Answers.


Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

 

Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future

 

Tips

  • Keep the area where your children play as dust-free and clean as possible.
  • Consider hiring a certified inspector to check for lead hazards in older homes. Click on Louisiana to find an inspector.
  • Ask your doctor to test your young children for lead even if they seem healthy. Read more.
  • Be a good neighbor. Spread the word about EPA’s new lead-safe renovation rule. Read more.
  • Report chipped or cracked paint to your landlord if you live in an older home built before 1978.
  • Make sure your children do not chew on painted surfaces, such as toys or window sills.
  • Learn about and avoid toys that contain lead. Read more.

 

More Resources

For additional information about preventing childhood lead poisoning, visit

Please see links below for informaiton on the CDC's Response to Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Recommendations in 'Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call of Primary Prevention"

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/Lead_Levels_in_Children_Fact_Sheet.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/CDC_Response_Lead_Exposure_Recs.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/Final_Document_030712.pdf

Childhood lead poisoning is the most common environmental health threat to children age six months to six years of age, but it is totally preventable. Approximately 4 percent of children in the U.S. between the ages of 6 months and 6 years haveelevated blood lead levels.

The purpose of Louisiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (LACLPPP) is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Louisiana through a comprehensive approach to prevention of lead poisoning and the management of children found to have elevated blood levels. 

Services include:

  • Monitoring of blood lead levels in children six years of age and under;
  • Identification of children with elevated blood lead levels;
  • Care coordination for these children with elevated blood lead levels;
  • Environmental inspection for the children with elevated blood lead levels; and
  • Community and professional education on childhood lead poisoning.

About Lead Poisoning

Children are particularly at risk to lead's toxic effects because their bodies are growing quickly and tend to absorb more lead than adults. Children's hand-to-mouth activities are plentiful, which introduces many non-food items into their gastrointestinal tract.  Toxic effects of lead poisoning include:

  • Leaning disabilities
  • Decreased growth
  • Hyperactivity
  • Impaired hearing
  • Brain Damage

The primary sources of lead exposure for most children are:

  • Deteriorating lead-based paint
  • Lead contaminated dust
  • Lead contaminated soil

The most common cause of childhood lead poisoning today is the deterioration or disruption of a lead paint surface of a home. Lead was used in household paint until 1978, but homes built before 1950 are more likely to contain paint with high amounts of lead. Twenty percent of homes in Louisiana and 40 percent of homes in New Orleans were built before 1950.

A child who looks and acts healthy can have lead poisoning. You cannot tell if a child has lead poisoning unless you have him or her tested. Blood tests are usually recommended for:

  • Children at ages 1 and 2 years of age;
  • Children between 3 and 6 years of age if not previously tested.
  • Children or other family members who may have been exposed to high levels of lead.

 

Questions can be directed to the Louisiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, at (504)568-8254.

Resources