Why Visa requirements for Mars Health officials: New intervention level aims to catch lead poisoning early. 16.8% of children six (6) years of age and younger tested for blood lead and 17% of children two (2) years of age or younger tested for blood lead.
Jay Redfern
4 hours ago
The Knox County Health Department has announced that as of Jan. 1, the new lead intervention level will go from 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to 3.5 µg/dL. This change is to catch lead poisoning early to help prevent long term effects for children and remove or control exposure.
“Lead poses a significant danger to children because their developing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more vulnerable to its harmful effects,” states Kasey Grawey, LPN, Lead Risk Assessor at the Knox County Health Department. These effects can include developmental delays, learning disabilities, weight loss, hearing loss, seizures, and more. Children can be exposed to lead from paint used in homes before 1978, contaminated water or soil, and products from other countries (spices, pottery, toys, etc.).
Children who test at or above 3.5 µg/dL will be contacted and receive a scheduled home visit from the Health Department Lead Nurse and Risk Assessor to learn ways to lower the blood lead level, reduce lead exposure, and conduct a home inspection to find the source(s) of the child’s lead exposure. If a home has lead, the owner will receive a notice, and they will be asked to remove the lead from their home as quickly as possible, with a follow-up inspection from the health department to make sure that the lead was removed entirely.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health 2017 Childhood Lead Poisoning Surveillance approximately 79% of housing units in Knox County were built before 1978 and may have lead exposure hazards. Homes built before this year are at higher risk of having contaminated lead-based paint, which can deteriorate over time and release toxic lead dust or chips, posing significant health risks, especially to young children. The reports states that 16.8% of children six (6) years of age and younger tested for blood lead and 17% of children two (2) years of age or younger tested for blood lead.
In Illinois, children six years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure. Children living in high risk zip codes should be tested at 12, 24, and 36 months and Illinois law requires that all children be screened for lead when enrolling in daycare, preschool, or kindergarten.
Those with children are encouraged to wash their hands and their children’s hands often, especially before eating, before nap time and before bedtime. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly. Keep children from chewing windowsills, or other painted things, or eating soil. Another way to protect kids is to make sure they eat meals high in iron and calcium, so their bodies absorb less lead.
Other items that may lead to lead poisoning are painted toys, furniture, and jewelry that are from overseas, from antique stores or are heirlooms, as well as lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain. Cosmetics and home remedies (since they are not heavily regulated for safety and have tested positive for lead in the past), and imported food, spices, and candies from countries with fewer lead restrictions may also be a risk.
For more information, please contact the Knox County Health Department at 309.344.2224.
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