Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Lead exposure is the most common and preventable environmental threat to young children in the U.S. Protecting children from lead exposure is important to lifelong good health. 

What is lead?  Lead is a metal that can harm children and adults when it gets into their bodies. Lead can be found in dust, air, water, soil, and in some products used in and around our homes. 

How is lead poisoning Caused?  Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing in lead and harms a young child’s growth, behavior, and ability to learn. Children under six years old are more likely to get lead poisoning than any other age group. Most often, children can get lead poisoning from breathing in or swallowing dust from old lead paint that gets on floors and windowsills, hands, and toys. Lead can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. The effects of lead exposure can be corrected. 

Our Goals:

• Educate and prevent Tuolumne County kids from lead exposure. 
• Support testing to identify those who are exposed. 
• Make sure that exposed children get access to services. 

The most important step that parents, doctors, and caregivers can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs.

Where is lead found? 

Lead in Paint Lead-based paint is the most common source of lead poisoning in children. Lead can be found in paint that is on the inside and outside of older homes and buildings. Paint inside homes can wear down and mix with household dust and dirt. From there, it can get on toys and fingers, which children put in their mouths.

Lead in Soil Almost all lead in soil coms from lead-based paint chips flaking from homes, factory pollution, and from the use of leaded gasoline. Over time lead builds up in the soil. Lead levels in soil are usually higher in cities, near roadways, industries that use lead, and near homes where crumbling lead paint has fallen into the soil.

Lead in Water The Environmental Protection Agency established the Lead and Copper Rule to protect public health and reduce exposure to lead in copper in drinking water. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead and galvanized steel pipes and brass or bronze faucets and fixtures. Water service lines are the pipers and joints that connect the water main under the street to the plumbing in your home. Service lines that contain lead are called lead service lines. California public water utilities are replacing the lead service lines they own over the next 10 years. Water utilities are not responsible for replacing private service lines and plumbing fixtures owned by the homeowner or customers served by private wells. For more information about lead service line replacement in California and tips to keep your family safe please visit the CDPH Lead Line Service Replacement page.

Lead in Home Remedies & Cosmetics Lead is in some home remedies and cosmetics. These include: Azarcon, Greta, Pay-loo-ah, Ghasard, Bala, Goli, Kandu, Kohl, Surma, and Kajal. Some of these are almost 100% lead.

Lead in Dishes and Glassware Lead may be in the paint or glazes of ceramic dishes or potter. Lead crystal often contains high levels of lead. Lead can leach into food and drinks. Be careful with the type of pottery or glassware you buy if you plan to use it everyday. Store food or drinks only in lead-safe containers.

Lead in Imported Candies Lead has been found in some candies imported from Mexico. Candy ingredients such as chili powder and tamarind may be a source of lead. Lead has been found in the wrappers of some imported candies. The ink of these plastic or paper wrappers may contain lead that leaches into the candy. People selling these candies may not know if the candy contains lead, because you cannot tell if there is lead by looking at or tasting a candy. Eating even small amounts of lead can be harmful and there is no safe blood lead level.

Lead on the Job Lead is found in certain workplaces. Painters and contractors who work in homes built before 1978 nay disturb old paint and get the dust on themselves. Lead is used at places that make or recycle batteries, repair radiators, and at lead smelters. You cannot see lead dust, but you can take it from your job on your hands, face, and clothes. Lead dust can get in your car, on your furniture, and in your carpet. Your child can then be exposed and poisoned.

Protect Your Family from Lead

Parents can take simple steps to make their homes more lead-safe: 

• Hand washing often- before eating, after play, before nap and at bedtime. 
• House cleaning- wet mop floors, wet wipe windowsills, vacuum, wash toys and blankets. 
• Do not let children chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips. 
• Make sure cribs, playpens, beds, and highchairs are away from damaged paint. 
• Do not use imported, older, or handmade dishes or pots for food or drink unless tested and they do not contain lead. 
• Be sure that products you bring home do not have lead in them. 
• Cover bare dirt outside the home with plants, concrete, bark, or gravel. 
• Don't bring lead dust home from work or a hobby. 
• Take off shoes or wipe them on a doormat before going inside. 
• Never sand, dry scrape, power wash, or sandblast paint. 
• Feed your child healthy foods and snacks.

Role of Nutrition in Preventing Lead Poisoning

Provide regular meals and snacks. A poor diet or an empty stomach can encourage absorption of lead. Vitamin C, iron and calcium-rich foods are nutrients that help prevent lead from being absorbed by the body and can also help remove lead from the body. Examples of these nutrients are: 

• Vitamin C-rich foods - oranges, tomatoes, limes, bell peppers, berries, papaya, jicama, or broccoli 
• Iron-rich foods - beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, cooked dried beans, fortified cereals, tofu, collards, kale, and mustard greens 
• Calcium-rich foods - low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified juices and cereals, and dark leafy greens

Testing for Lead

Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick—the only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is for your child to get a blood test, which will measure the level of lead in their blood. Children in California on a publicly funded program such as CHDP, Medi-Cal, and WIC are tested for lead at 12 and 24 months of age. Some children over the age of 2, also, need to get tested if there is a concern that they have been exposed to lead. Talk to your child’s health care provider if you are concerned about lead exposure. If you have Medi-Cal or you are in the Child Health & Disability Program (CHDP), the test is free. Many health insurance plans will also pay for this test.

Community Services

When a child with lead exposure is identified through testing, they are referred for services that may include:

• A home visit from a Public Health Nurse who is trained to identify possible reasons why a child may be exposed to lead and to offer solutions
• Public Health Nurse’s provide case management, developmental and nutritional assessments
• An environmental investigation by a registered Environmental Health specialist who identifies lead hazards in the child’s home and makes recommendations for removing or reducing those hazards 
• Presentations and Outreach

Additional Resources

  For Families: CDPH

For Providers: CDPH Provider Page

For Public Health Workers: CDPH Information

For Lead Professionals: California Lead-Related Construction Program